Meaning & use
Antiphrasis
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The ironic use of a word or phrase in a sense opposite to its usual meaning, often for humorous or sarcastic effect.
See it in a sentence
Calling a tiny, cramped apartment a 'palace' is a classic example of antiphrasis.
The nickname 'Tiny' for the seven-foot basketball player is antiphrasis at its simplest.
A note on using this word
A rhetorical device rooted in ancient Greek grammar, closely related to verbal irony but specifically involving a single word or short phrase.
Words with a similar meaning
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