irony

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun irony differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of irony are humor, repartee, sarcasm, satire, and wit. While all these words mean "a mode of expression intended to arouse amusement," irony applies to a manner of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is seemingly expressed.

the irony of the title

When can humor be used instead of irony?

While the synonyms humor and irony are close in meaning, humor implies an ability to perceive the ludicrous, the comical, and the absurd in human life and to express these usually without bitterness.

a sense of humor

When is it sensible to use repartee instead of irony?

The words repartee and irony are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, repartee implies the power of answering quickly, pointedly, or wittily.

a dinner guest noted for repartee

Where would sarcasm be a reasonable alternative to irony?

The meanings of sarcasm and irony largely overlap; however, sarcasm applies to expression frequently in the form of irony that is intended to cut or wound.

given to heartless sarcasm

When is satire a more appropriate choice than irony?

The synonyms satire and irony are sometimes interchangeable, but satire applies to writing that exposes or ridicules conduct, doctrines, or institutions either by direct criticism or more often through irony, parody, or caricature.

a satire on the Congress

When could wit be used to replace irony?

While in some cases nearly identical to irony, wit suggests the power to evoke laughter by remarks showing verbal felicity or ingenuity and swift perception especially of the incongruous.

a playful wit

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 irony In 1995, writing for The New York Times, food writer Ruth Reichl noted the irony of selling American ice cream to Americans by giving it a fake European origin. Victoria Edel, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025 There is, of course, a generous dose of your customary irony in the film. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 27 Aug. 2025 In an irony of history, Anne Gorsuch Burford’s son Neil Gorsuch now sits on the Supreme Court. Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025 There’s a certain irony in China’s possessiveness over its Labubu IP. Ramishah Maruf, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for irony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irony
Noun
  • This project became both an ethnographic and photographic study of how women inhabit, resist, and reimagine their roles in a context denned by deep contradictions – beauty and chaos, devotion and repression, tradition and transformation.
    Vogue, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
  • That kind of contradiction is something Marcello does especially well.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Thirty-four states have some form of admissions or amusement tax generally running from 3% to 10%.
    Malachi Barrett, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Viewers on Instagram were quick to share their amusement at Tini's morning routine, and their delight at her close relationship with her owner's partner.
    Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Giorgio Armani, the designer whose creations are at the same time classic and revolutionary, represents a paradox in the world of fashion.
    Joseph Giovannini, Architectural Digest, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Sunstein warns against paradoxes, where well-meaning but rigid rules lead to enforcement paralysis.
    Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In terms that viewers of the original series might understand, Esmeralda falls somewhere between the tyranny of Michael Scott, the absurdity of Dwight Schrute, and the self-involvement of Kelly Kapoor with a particular charisma that only Impacciatore could pull off.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Still, Daniels and Koman drew on real research to capture the rhythms and absurdities of newsroom life.
    Andy Meek, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Likewise, the airy comedy (boosted by Thomas Newman’s sprightly if familiar-sounding score) insists on the seeming incongruity between the film’s lovely setting and its darker subject matter.
    Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 22 Aug. 2025
  • In contemplating the religious system of the Aztecs, one is struck with its apparent incongruity, as if some portion of it had emanated from a comparatively refined people, open to gentle influences, while the rest breathes a spirit of unmitigated ferocity.
    Sebastian Purcell August 18, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • That’s a tough dichotomy to bridge, but the new 2025 911 Carrera GTS achieves it brilliantly.
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2025
  • That’s a rich dichotomy, and whenever the narrative voice drills into the specificity of Ruth’s anxious imagination, the reader is rewarded.
    Hannah Gold, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irony. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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