IRONICAL Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

ironic

adjective

variants also ironical

Definition of ironic

as in acidic

marked by an often negative or mocking form of wit in which words are used to express something different to their literal meaning a book written in an ironic style an ironic sense of humor

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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 The post is also ironic given what Musk had just told The Economist. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 29 July 2026 That’s a striking claim — and an ironic one, since outsourcing your thinking is arguably exactly the point of using AI, of which Microsoft is a leading vendor. — Frank Landymore, Futurism, 29 July 2026 The failure with the LINK spacecraft's reaction wheel is slightly ironic, given that the Swift observatory itself once had issues with its own reaction wheels. — Brett Tingley, Space.com, 29 July 2026 Although the work was a critical favorite and a Pulitzer finalist, Eggers’s ironic tone struck some readers as overly precious—few books have inspired such devotion and exasperation in equal measure. — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ironic

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ironic

Adjective

The acidic qualities of both the apple and vinegar will kill the bacteria under the feet and nails.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Some researchers have proposed that, when filled with an acidic liquid, the assembly could generate a small electrical charge.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of acidic

Adjective

Unauthorized sequels reveal the extremes of why people make movies in the first place, from purely cynical money grabs to pure — even naive — devotion to characters and their world.

— Katie Rife, IndieWire, 11 Aug. 2026
Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, an irritable, cynical weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to report a story about the town’s quaint groundhog ceremony.

— David Faris, TheWeek, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of cynical

Adjective

Slow Horses, Apple TV’s wry cult spy series, isn’t planning on, well, slowing down anytime soon.

— Trey Williams, HollywoodReporter, 13 Aug. 2026
Romano’s wry, hangdog default demeanor suits his character, Joe, a father of two who’s separated from his wife (Penelope Ann Miller) and living in a depressing motel.

— Judy Berman, Time, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of wry

Adjective

But the tale is even more poignant now, because as part of the team’s offensive transformation, fueled by the hiring of former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith, the Vikings are handing Bredeson a hefty role.

— Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
But Roy’s story of Annie (Arjun Raina), a New Delhi architecture student caught in a vicious cycle of failing and repeating his studies, gradually reveals itself as a sharp and poignant portrayal of youth, deftly poised between hope and cynicism.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of poignant

Adjective

Another round of showers is possible Saturday evening, but there will be plenty of dry time in between.

— Adam Del Rosso, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
With France experiencing its driest year ever, a new fire raced through woodlands overnight in the Landes region on the southwest coast.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of dry

Adjective

Meanwhile, Rogen and Nanjiani manage to steal multiple scenes as the voices of the ladies’ cats Dio and GG, two sarcastic felines who are fed up with their burnout owners.

— Glenn Garner, Deadline, 12 Aug. 2026
This was Perez Hilton, after all, a man who had earned fame in the mid-two-thousands for his salacious, sarcastic, and often sadistic coverage of celebrity suffering.

— Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sarcastic

Adjective

Binface, who was first to declare and already a running joke in British elections, drew the most attention because of his satirical spin on politics and persona as a space alien from the planet Sigma IX.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
Outlandish costumes Binface is just one in a long line of satirical candidates dating back more than six decades, who have become a unique staple of British elections.

— Reagan Yip, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of satiric

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ironhearted

ironic

ironing

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“Ironic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ironic. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ironic

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