ironically

adverb

iron·​i·​cal·​ly ˌī-ˈrä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

also i-ˈrä-

1

: in an ironic manner

2

: it is ironic, curious, or surprising

Examples of ironically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While high prices could bolster the case for deploying renewable energy, experts warn that worsening inflation — from higher energy costs — could ironically hamper the shift to clean energy. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026

Progressives may have lost the battle for racial affirmative action, but ironically, Supreme Court decisions should allow colleges to give advantage to groups defined by their income, geography, or heritage. —David Cole, The New York Review of Books, 5 Mar. 2026

Gyllenhaal’s movie is a whole different cat, and is in fact set a century later, in the Chicago and New York of 1936, ironically a year after the infamous Bride of Frankenstein was released by Universal. —Pete Hammond, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2026

The total value of those four picks equates to about the 20-21st overall pick, which, ironically, is where the Chiefs drafted McDuffie four years ago. —Sam McDowell March 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ironically

• ultrasonically
• canonically
• laconically
• tectonically