What does ironic really mean

We submit that ironic might be the most abused word in the English language. So, what does the word really mean? And how do you make a proper ironic statement? An ironic remark conveys a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning. So, in an ironic statement one thing is said, while another thing is meant.

Irony is often confused with sarcasm. While the two are similar, in sarcasm there is a stronger intent to ridicule or mock, often harshly or crudely. I might as well give up, since the fates are clearly against me. Historical irony - Some things only become ironic with time.

If the passage of years has created an amusing juxtaposition between a historical event or claim and what has happened since to contradict it, historical irony comes into play. That became pretty ironic when she was made the first female prime minister of the UK, notably well within her lifetime, in Socratic irony, a related concept, describes a pretense of ignorance used to draw an opponent into slipping up or revealing flaws in their argument.

The irony lies in the uninformed, gullible face the speaker presents, which is juxtaposed to the actual depth of their understanding -- ironically, they were more knowledgeable than the seemingly educated target all along. The more innocently I question him about it, the more quickly his argument seems to fall apart. News U. Politics Joe Biden Congress Extremism. Special Projects Highline. HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes.

Follow Us. Is that ironic or not? There was no twist of fate. OK, Next one. And the crazy thing is I parked it outside the police station! One more example. My keys! I thought they were lost forever! They were behind the photocopier.

I just got a new set made yesterday. So what do you think? But you might hear people using it like that. Some people use it very loosely. We tend to use irony in more formal contexts. Sarcasm often implies something negative.

We can use sarcasm to make fun of someone or mock them. And hit the bell so you get notified. Until then, bye-bye everyone. Your email address will not be published. What does the English word ironic really mean? How to use the word ironic. Share on facebook Facebook. Share on twitter Twitter. Share on pinterest Pinterest. Share on linkedin LinkedIn. Leave a Comment Cancel Reply Your email address will not be published. Social Media. Facebook-f Twitter Youtube.

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