ironic
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
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.
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!
Browse dictionary entries near ironic
- ironhearted
- ironer
- ironed
- Irondequoit
- ironclad
- ironbound
- ironbark
- iron pyrites
- iron oxide
- iron out
- ironing
- ironist
- ironman
- ironmaster
- ironmonger
- irons
- Ironsides
- ironsmith
- ironstone
- ironware
