Meaning & use
ironically funny
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivecomparable
Amusing in a way that is unexpected or contrary to what you would normally expect; funny because of irony.
Grammar: Used as a compound adjective: an ironically funny situation; or after linking verbs: The situation was ironically funny.
Patterns
- be ironically funny
- an ironically funny situation
- find something ironically funny
The fact that the fire station burned down is ironically funny.
She found the error in the report ironically funny, given how much time they spent checking it.
It was ironically funny that the anti-technology protest was organized entirely online.
Word forms
| comparative | more ironically funny |
|---|---|
| superlative | most ironically funny |
Common combinations
- find something ironically funny
- Many people found the situation ironically funny.
- ironically funny situation
- It was an ironically funny situation that no one expected.
- seem ironically funny
- The mistake seemed ironically funny after all the warnings.
Synonyms and how they differ
- amusingly ironic
- Focuses on the irony rather than the funniness; 'ironically funny' emphasizes the humor that comes from the irony.
- darkly comic
- Suggests humor in something serious or grim; 'ironically funny' is broader and can describe any ironic humor.
Opposites
Word family
- ironic adjective
- Showing irony; contrary to what is expected.
- irony noun
- The use of words or situations that are opposite to what is expected, often for humorous effect.
- ironically adverb
- In an ironic manner; used to comment on an ironic situation.
Commonly confused: ironically funny or coincidentally funny?
ironically funny vs coincidentally funny
Coincidentally funny means funny because of a coincidence, not necessarily because of irony. Irony involves a contrast between expectation and reality.
Practice
Which sentence best uses 'ironically funny'?
Choose one answer.
'Ironically funny' describes something amusing because it is contrary to expectation, like a 'no smoking' sign catching fire. The other options either describe ordinary humor or use the phrase where no irony is present.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ironically funny”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.