Thesaurus results for IRONY

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

irony

noun

Definition of irony next

as in contradiction

a situation that is strange or funny because things happen in a way that seems to be the opposite of what is expected We got a good chuckle seeing their tow truck being towed away, but our friends failed to see the irony.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 some irony to this: Saldaña is arguably the movie’s POV character, but she had been controversially slotted in Best Supporting Actress, allowing Netflix to run Gascón as a lead. —

Nate Jones, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025 But over time, his use of symbols and rhetoric have grown more extreme and more violent — so much so that it’s gotten hard to keep track — and further gotten hard to tell how much of this is irony, how much of it is innocence, and how much of it is a sincere embrace of white supremacist rhetoric. —

Aja Romano, Vox, 7 Feb. 2025 While many of Marilyn Mosby’s supporters reacted with sorrow to former President Joe Biden’s decision not to grant her a pardon, the irony of Biden’s final clemency actions may be lost on many. —

Zy Richardson, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025 Much like the irony of using civil rights legislation to revoke DEI, watching Black women face attacks for doing due diligence in the equal rights space didn’t escape me. —

Ken Makin, The Christian Science Monitor, 31 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for irony

Recent Examples of Synonyms for irony

Noun

Walter Salles reflects our parallel contradictions.

— Armond White, National Review, 7 Feb. 2025
Deep Space Nine may have a cult following among the franchise’s fans, but those who make Star Trek today seem to have learned the wrong lessons from it, gobbling up the series’ darkness but forgoing its soulfulness and wonderful contradictions.

— Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025