ironic

ironic Definition

ironic (ī rän′ik)

adjective

meaning the contrary of what is expressed
using, or given to the use of, irony
having the quality of irony; directly opposite to what is or might be expected
marked by coincidence or by a curious or striking juxtaposition of events: regarded by many as a loose usage

ironic Related Forms

iron′i·cally adverb

ironic Synonyms

modif.

Said of events, works, statements, and the like
ironical, paradoxical, contradictory, incongruous, satiric, satirical, wry, sardonic, sarcastic, mocking, humorous, facetious, tongue-in-cheek, ambiguous, double-edged, equivocal, nonliteral, subtle, dry, unexpected, implausible, ridiculous, exaggerated, twisted, critical, cynical, sneering, chaffing, derisive, caustic, biting, cutting, trenchant, incisive, mordant, scathing, pungent, bitter, spicy, acrid, jibing, disparaging, uncomplimentary, backbiting; see also sense 2, facetious, sarcastic.
Said especially of people
sarcastic, sardonic, satirical, quick-witted, witty, clever, sharp, keen, quip-making, cynical, contemptuous, scornful, irreverent; see also sense 1, facetious, witty. See syn. study at sarcastic.

ironic Usage Examples

Preposition: that

man: It is ironic that the retarded man should be taken into the confidence of these supposedly normal characters.
people: It is, possibly, ironic that most people don't actually put these things on top of their televisions!
someone: It's a bit ironic that someone who advocates investor discipline should show so little as a writer.

Modifies a noun

twist: In an ironic twist, the actual bearer of the guns rears their head from the jungle.
detachment: For Richter, whereas the sublime evokes terror, awe and fear, the 'inverse sublime ' invites an ironic detachment from the world.
counterpoint: There is also an underlying darkness and even more ironic counterpoint buried in the music and lyrics.
allusion: The habitual qualification of the doctor as good constitutes an ironic allusion to 19th century modes of narration.
cheer: But even the most gnarled old pro might start to question himself if his every gesture provoked ironic cheers.
wit: Mark Twain deals with complex topics such as race and freedom with humor and ironic wit.

Modifying Another Word

doubly: Their unequivocal embrace of social conformity is doubly ironic considering they kept themselves apart from others.
bitterly: Nana's torment In a bitterly ironic twist, former EastEnders star Hilda Braid has been taken to a nursing home with suspected dementia.
deliciously: Of course, it really is quite deliciously ironic to read this sort of stuff from SWP leaders.
somewhat: I find somewhat ironic the current outcry about the use of poison gas by Iraq from States which did nothing at the time.
darkly: As you can tell, I am darkly ironic, of course.
cruelly: Before she died, Eyre had composed the cruelly ironic epitaph, which finally stung her to desperation and death.

Infinitive complement

think: Therefore it's somewhat ironic to think that in later years the AD Police would require help themselves.

Used with adjective complement

seem: It all seems rather ironic now, standing here, in the drizzle, waiting for the bus.
find: I find somewhat ironic the current outcry about the use of poison gas by Iraq from States which did nothing at the time.
become: I kept waiting for it to become ironic -- but it didn't!

Preposition: in

view: Presumably, this was a stipulation for planning permission being granted: ironic in view of the aforementioned corrugated iron!

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