variants
also ironical
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ironic
Iris’s self-abasement, found in Nunez’s ironic vision, is something new for Millennial movies.
—
Armond White, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
The ironic bits and poignant moments rarely gel and a focus on redundant innuendos takes precedence over character development and a meaningful storyline.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
This is an ironic stance, considering the fact that the people pushing this narrative, predominantly white heterosexual men, have benefited from nepotism, legacy admissions and other unearned privileges throughout all of American history.
—Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 1 Apr. 2025
The mood is a mix of ironic and sincere in equal measure, with plenty of pastiche and a heavy appreciation for the profundity of cultural detritus.
—Savannah Sobrevilla, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ironic
Armond White, National Review, 2 Apr. 2025
The ironic bits and poignant moments rarely gel and a focus on redundant innuendos takes precedence over character development and a meaningful storyline.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 2 Apr. 2025
This is an ironic stance, considering the fact that the people pushing this narrative, predominantly white heterosexual men, have benefited from nepotism, legacy admissions and other unearned privileges throughout all of American history.
—Jameelah Nasheed, Essence, 1 Apr. 2025
The mood is a mix of ironic and sincere in equal measure, with plenty of pastiche and a heavy appreciation for the profundity of cultural detritus.
—Savannah Sobrevilla, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ironic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ironic
Adjective
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Crisp, acidic and linear aromas of grapefruit, green apples, melon, candy cane and lemon grass; slight lime and salt.—
Tom Mullen,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Most veggies prefer slightly acidic soil, but these crops thrive in more alkaline gardens.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Lee’s cynical cardsharp of a brother, Julius (Jacob Elordi), was meant to be part of that dream move, but the call of gambling takes Julius to Las Vegas instead.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2025
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Now, posters are more cynical and there’s a fatalist bent to the conversations that wasn’t there before.—
Fortesa Latifi,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Roy Ayers, the jazz vibraphonist whose smooth fusion planted the seeds of acid jazz and neo soul, died Wednesday at the age of 84.—
Stephen Thomas Erlewine,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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The dialogue is alternately wry and poetic, trafficking in a deadpan magical realism, involving its bustling cast of colorful characters in a circular story, with events revisited via shifting perspectives and time frames.—
Jason Bailey,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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An especially poignant moment was when a close friend provided a check with the payee line left blank, demonstrating immense trust and support.—
Geri Stengel,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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As the world mourns the death of Pope Francis, a poignant video from Easter Sunday is being remembered as the pontiff's final farewell.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Rain could aid firefighting efforts and saturate dry fuels, reducing their risk of igniting in the future.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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The command center overhead stocked a whole town’s worth (450 tonnes) of equipment — including bunk beds, dry toilets, water, and other supplies — ready to be mobilized into the tunnels below by way of dolly carts.—
Jessi Jezewska Stevens,
The Dial,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Goldberg continued before asking her co-hosts their opinions in a sarcastic tone.—
Liza Esquibias,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
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Where Jackie is sarcastic, cynical, and all sharp edges, Zoey is enthusiastic and warm.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Misery, a horror movie with a satiric streak, launched Bates’s film stardom.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ironic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ironic. Accessed 5 May. 2025.
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