Meaning & use

ironic

adjective·Academic

Involving irony; describing an outcome that is the opposite of what was expected, often strikingly or amusingly so.

See it in a sentence

It was ironic that the fire station burned down before the new equipment arrived.

He made an ironic remark, calling the freezing weather absolutely perfect for a picnic.

A note on using this word

Ironic should describe a genuine contrast between expectation and reality, not merely an unfortunate coincidence.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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