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 It's been unraveled in some recent books that are being written by journalists who engaged in that cover-up in scandal, which is quite ironic. Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Apr. 2025 What eventually worked, Ramsey recalled, was a bit ironic. James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025 The name’s ironic on purpose—the app allows users to create, send, and receive anonymous voice messages in a celebrity’s tone. Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Coogler finds that very ironic, given his own connection to this sequence. Nick Romano, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ironic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ironic
Adjective
  • Served in a shallow pool of rich but refreshingly acidic sauce, the legs are prepared to just short of fall-off-the-bone.
    Mike Jordan, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • Unlike many other archaeological sites in Sweden, where acidic soil degrades organic material, Strandvägen’s conditions have allowed organic material to survive for many years, as Gummesson tells the publication.
    Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These final years are sometimes treated as a lost period, because Twain’s writing grew bitter and cynical and unpalatable to those more interested in pleasing escapades.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 9 May 2025
  • What makes Kennedy’s order especially cynical is that designing and implementing a clinical trial is an extraordinarily complex, costly and time-consuming process.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025
Adjective
  • The vintage was a cool one, allowing the grapes to mature slowly in autumn to balance sweet and acid components.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • The acid content of these foods irritates your child's skin, causing redness that can look like a rash.6 Viruses and Bacterial Infections Certain viral or bacterial infections may cause multiple symptoms around the mouth, including a rash.
    Wendy Wisner, Health, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • He’s regarded as someone who’s down-to-earth, a tremendous teammate and a dressing room cutup thanks to his quick and wry sense of humour.
    Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 1 May 2025
  • The sense of incidence with which May ’68 plays out, far in the background, speaks to a film for which the political is of little importance, or at least one that reflects the political through wry non-confrontations.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The film offers a poignant exploration of identity, reclamation, and community through the lens of a viral meme.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 2 May 2025
  • The formal complexity and poignant quietude of Jia’s filmmaking haven’t endeared him much to previous Cannes juries, and for some this latest entry, with its dizzying chains of intertextuality, must have seemed imposing to the point of being indecipherable.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • The box’s ability to keep its contents dry has earned it lots of praise.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 3 May 2025
  • Atopic dermatitis, a type of eczema, causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.
    Susan Bard, Health, 3 May 2025
Adjective
  • Green’s teammate, Moses Moody, gave a sarcastic response to Brooks’ assertion.
    Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2025
  • It was followed by a sarcastic post targeting Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s the premise of Douglas Is Cancelled, a cruelly funny 2024 BBC sitcom that seems very much in sync with satiric comedies such as The Office and W1A and Yes Minister.
    Air Mail, Air Mail, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Misery, a horror movie with a satiric streak, launched Bates’s film stardom.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ironic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ironic. Accessed 17 May. 2025.

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