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 There’s a lot of irony packed into Cameron’s words about nonviolence when this is a guy who murdered someone in cold blood. Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025 These results highlight a strange irony: Humans have made the world more stressful for all kinds of animals by, for example, destroying their habitat and damming up rivers. Benji Jones, Vox, 10 Apr. 2025 And the final irony of it all is the speaker was right in the beginning. Abc News, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025 That was just their sense of humor, a dose of online irony poisoning. Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for irony
Recent Examples of Synonyms for irony
Noun
  • Below are three key takeaways from this growing contradiction.
    Ilona Limonta-Volkova, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The Trump administration has not really faced or sought to resolve the fundamental contradiction delaying serious peace talks: Netanyahu insists that any cease-fire process must end in the dismantling of Hamas.
    Amos Harel, Foreign Affairs, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • There's a mix of on-the-beach relaxation (pet-friendly!) and off-the-beach amusements, such as go-kart tracks, a handful of mini-golf courses, a number of ice cream shops, and good restaurants.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
  • My Aunt Chippy has always been a source of great amusement for me.
    Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Takeaway: The Power Of Humble Resolve The paradox of Level-5 leadership is a delicate balance.
    Wayne Yu, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Denisovan paradox Denisovans were first identified in 2010 in a lab using DNA sequences extracted from a tiny fragment of finger bone found in Denisova Cave in Siberia’s Altai Mountains, which is how the group got its name.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • But the film, like many of her roles, highlights the absurdity of such divisive social dynamics.
    Jessica Ourisman, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • But cuteness adds a touch of whimsical absurdity that further defangs the power hungry.
    Yii-Jan Lin, The Conversation, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Understand nuance, relational differences, and can deal with incongruity.
    Eli Amdur, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
  • Camp is this aesthetic of ironic juxtaposition, taking something that might be shocking in its incongruity, and then using it to create a cool or humorous effect.
    Sam Reed, Glamour, 15 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The record will appear on his debut album Order Chaos Order, out June 13, which emerged from a kindred dichotomy.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Oda is a revelatory young acting and vocal talent, commanding the stage inside a masterful performance, the truth of Jade’s personal persona an interesting dichotomy from how the public knows her.
    David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 15 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Irony.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/irony. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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