ironic

variants also ironical

Synonym Chooser

How is the word ironic different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of ironic are sarcastic, sardonic, and satiric. While all these words mean "marked by bitterness and a power or will to cut or sting," ironic implies an attempt to be amusing or provocative by saying usually the opposite of what is meant.

made the ironic observation that the government could always be trusted

When is sarcastic a more appropriate choice than ironic?

The meanings of sarcastic and ironic largely overlap; however, sarcastic implies an intentional inflicting of pain by deriding, taunting, or ridiculing.

a critic known for his sarcastic remarks

When would sardonic be a good substitute for ironic?

The words sardonic and ironic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sardonic implies scorn, mockery, or derision that is manifested by either verbal or facial expression.

surveyed the scene with a sardonic smile

When is it sensible to use satiric instead of ironic?

In some situations, the words satiric and ironic are roughly equivalent. However, satiric implies that the intent of the ridiculing is censure and reprobation.

a satiric look at contemporary society

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ironic Netflix is an ironic home for a swoony love letter to cinema; the streamer remains fairly uninterested in the theatrical experience. David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025 The reaction wasn’t completely unexpected, though the timing was ironic, said the 34-year-old artist. Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025 Rachel Sennott The title is semi-ironic. Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025 The movement’s often ironic or parodic approach to commercialization spread across the United States and the United Kingdom. Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ironic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ironic
Adjective
  • Highly acidic foods like pickles and tomatoes will react with the can after an extended period of time, causing both taste and texture changes so pay particularly close attention to expiration dates on these items.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Soil and Water Japanese maple likes a slightly acidic, humus-rich soil with good drainage.
    Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The crimes with which she has been charged are trumped up and her arrest is a cynical ploy by the junta headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to cling onto power.
    Kim Aris, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Is Alec’s folksiness sincere or cynical?
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The idea of dissolving the self in an acid bath of erotic imagery was not, in the end, so unappealing.
    Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Avoid an acid overload of tart and tangy (pickles and citrus), a bold flavor competition, sweet and funky flavors colliding (fruity jams and aged cheeses), and a clash of spicy meats and cheeses with delicate fruits and accompaniments.
    Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Season 1 of the TV series, based on the first book, The Deal, follows the unlikely romance between Hannah Wells (Bright), a wry, hockey-hating music major, and Briar University’s playboy star center Garrett Graham (Cameli).
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
  • One inning later, Schnieder could show a wry smile while discussing the situation.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Even more poignant, however, is the Rosemary's Baby angle, where the innocence of childhood is drowned in blood and the notion that a young person reared in a loving environment should develop into a compassionate adult is perverted into unthinkable horror.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 8 Nov. 2025
  • One of the hits of this year’s Cannes Film Festival, helmer Hadi’s poignant feature debut follows an impoverished girl living with her grandmother in the Mesopotamian marshes during the Saddam Hussein regime.
    Alissa Simon, Variety, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Order the deluxe martini with gin or vodka, extra-dry vermouth, and olives or a twist; pair with truffle fries and the hearts of romaine Caesar, available on special request from the restaurant, all as classic as the setting itself.
    Melinda Sheckells, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Up to 16 inches of rainfall drenched the Hill Country area from July 3 to July 5, a landscape known for rapid, raging flooding in extreme rain boosted by moist gulf air moving over the dry, dusty hills.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The Marriage Story star first appeared as a child in an uncredited role in the Scorsese film — Ladd's first taste of major acclaim as the sarcastic waitress Flo.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The kicking game was so bad that Freeman sounded like Brian Kelly at his sarcastic best when asked about Noah Burnette, Erik Schmidt and Marcello Diomede combining to miss two extra points and one field goal.
    Pete Sampson, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Since that inaugural episode in late July, a steady stream of blistering satirical installments has not let up on the POTUS and key White House officials, from VP JD Vance to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Where Tom is the satirical end point of corporate America’s moral rot, Guiteau is like his spiritual predecessor, a 19th-century American striver so intoxicated by the promise of self-making that rejection feels like cosmic betrayal.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ironic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ironic. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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