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irony

1

[ ahy-ruh-nee, ahy-er- ]

noun

plural ironies.
  1. the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning:

    the irony of her reply, “How nice!†when I said I had to work all weekend.

  2. Literature.
    1. a technique of indicating, as through character or plot development, an intention or attitude opposite to that which is actually or ostensibly stated.
    2. (especially in contemporary writing) a manner of organizing a work so as to give full expression to contradictory or complementary impulses, attitudes, etc., especially as a means of indicating detachment from a subject, theme, or emotion.
  3. an outcome of events contrary to what was, or might have been, expected.
  4. the incongruity of this.
  5. an objectively sardonic style of speech or writing.
  6. an objectively or humorously sardonic utterance, disposition, quality, etc.


irony

2

[ ahy-er-nee ]

adjective

  1. consisting of, containing, or resembling the metal iron:

    an irony color.

irony

1

/ ˈ²¹Éª°ùÉ™²Ôɪ /

noun

  1. the humorous or mildly sarcastic use of words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean
  2. an instance of this, used to draw attention to some incongruity or irrationality
  3. incongruity between what is expected to be and what actually is, or a situation or result showing such incongruity
  4. philosophy See Socratic irony
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

irony

2

/ ˈ²¹ÉªÉ™²Ôɪ /

adjective

  1. of, resembling, or containing iron
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

irony

  1. The use of words to mean something very different from what they appear on the surface to mean. Jonathan Swift uses irony in “ A Modest Proposal †when he suggests the eating of babies as a solution to overpopulation and starvation in Ireland .
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of irony1

First recorded in 1495–1505; from Latin Ä«°ùŲÔÄ«²¹, from Greek ±ð¾±°ùŲԱðí²¹ “dissimulation, sarcasm, understatement,†equivalent to ±ðí°ùÅ²Ô â€œa dissembler†+ -eia -y 3

Origin of irony2

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English ireni; iron + -y 1( def )
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˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins

Origin of irony1

C16: from Latin ironia, from Greek ±ð¾±°ùŲԱ𾱲¹, from ±ð¾±°ùÅ²Ô dissembler, from eirein to speak
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Synonym Study

Irony, sarcasm, satire indicate mockery of something or someone. The essential feature of irony is the indirect presentation of a contradiction between an action or expression and the context in which it occurs. In the figure of speech, emphasis is placed on the opposition between the literal and intended meaning of a statement; one thing is said and its opposite implied, as in the comment, “Beautiful weather, isn't it?†made when it is raining or nasty. Ironic literature exploits, in addition to the rhetorical figure, such devices as character development, situation, and plot to stress the paradoxical nature of reality or the contrast between an ideal and actual condition, set of circumstances, etc., frequently in such a way as to stress the absurdity present in the contradiction between substance and form. Irony differs from sarcasm in greater subtlety and wit. In sarcasm ridicule or mockery is used harshly, often crudely and contemptuously, for destructive purposes. It may be used in an indirect manner, and have the form of irony, as in “What a fine musician you turned out to be!†or it may be used in the form of a direct statement, “You couldn't play one piece correctly if you had two assistants.†The distinctive quality of sarcasm is present in the spoken word and manifested chiefly by vocal inflection, whereas satire and irony, arising originally as literary and rhetorical forms, are exhibited in the organization or structuring of either language or literary material. Satire usually implies the use of irony or sarcasm for censorious or critical purposes and is often directed at public figures or institutions, conventional behavior, political situations, etc.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"The irony was a big part of it. I often joke that he absorbs all my slow energy for me, so that I can be as fast as I want," says Nuguse.

From

The irony was that no one ignored “the math and the facts†about Social Security more than Simpson.

From

And in a twist of historical irony, the word cotton — or, more precisely, cotton rebels — was once used to mock the Confederate South in the United States.

From

“But the unfortunate irony of Greene’s political bullying is that while she claims to promote liberty, in reality, she just wants to tell us all what to think and do,†the performer said.

From

“The irony is this notion that the dust is going to be mitigated and it won’t travel and disperse,†Gund, 52, said as a westerly breeze picked up.

From

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