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Ironic: meaning, definitions and examples

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ironic

 

[ aɪˈrɒnɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

tone

using words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning; containing or exemplifying irony

Synonyms

mocking, sarcastic, satirical

Examples of usage

  • She gave him a bemused, almost ironic smile.
  • It is ironic that the firefighter's house burned down.
  • The ironic twist at the end of the movie caught everyone by surprise.
Context #2 | Adjective

situation

happening in the opposite way to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this

Synonyms

coincidental, paradoxical, unexpected

Examples of usage

  • It's ironic that the environmentalist's car polluted the air.
  • The ironic coincidence made everyone laugh.
  • Isn't it ironic that the weatherman got caught in a sudden rain shower?

Translations

Translations of the word "ironic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 irônico

🇮🇳 विडंबनापूर्ण

🇩🇪 ironisch

🇮🇩 ironis

🇺🇦 іронічний

🇵🇱 ironiczny

🇯🇵 皮肉な (ひにくな)

🇫🇷 ironique

🇪🇸 irónico

🇹🇷 ironik

🇰🇷 아이러니한 (aireoni han)

🇸🇦 ساخر

🇨🇿 ironický

🇸🇰 ironický

🇨🇳 讽刺的 (fěngcì de)

🇸🇮 ironičen

🇮🇸 háðskur

🇰🇿 ирониялы

🇬🇪 ირონიული (ironuli)

🇦🇿 ironik

🇲🇽 irónico

Word origin

The word 'ironic' comes from the Greek word 'eirōnikós', meaning 'dissembling'. The term originally referred to a form of humor that ridiculed through pretended ignorance or innocence. Over time, 'ironic' evolved to describe situations or statements that are the opposite of what is expected, often with a sense of humor or satire.

See also: iron, ironically, ironing, irons, irony.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,429, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.