IRONIC: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for IRONIC?

Need another word that means the same as “ironic”? Find 22 synonyms and 30 related words for “ironic” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Ironic” are: ironical, dry, wry, sarcastic, sardonic, caustic, sharp, stinging, scathing, acerbic, acid, bitter, trenchant, mordant, cynical, paradoxical, incongruous, odd, strange, weird, peculiar, unexpected

Ironic as an Adjective

Definitions of "Ironic" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “ironic” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

• Characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is.
• Using or characterized by irony.
• Humorously sarcastic or mocking.
• Happening in a way contrary to what is expected, and typically causing wry amusement because of this.

Synonyms of "Ironic" as an adjective (22 Words)

acerbic	Tasting sour or bitter. His acerbic wit.
acid	Having the characteristics of an acid. Acid soils.
bitter	(of wind or weather) intensely cold. The bitter truth.
caustic	Of a substance, especially a strong acid; capable of destroying or eating away by chemical action. The players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.
cynical	Contemptuous; mocking. A cynical manipulation of public opinion.
dry	Of noodles not served in a soup but in a sauce or with dry ingredients. I heard much talk about how sobriety was more than staying straight or dry.
incongruous	Lacking in harmony or compatibility or appropriateness. A plan incongruous with reason.
ironical	Characterized by often poignant difference or incongruity between what is expected and what actually is. An ironical smile.
mordant	Harshly ironic or sinister. A mordant sense of humour.
odd	Not easily explained. Atoms which possess an odd number of electrons.
paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true. By glorifying the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making them trivial.
peculiar	Slightly and indefinably unwell. He gave her some very peculiar looks.
sarcastic	Marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt. I think they re being sarcastic.
sardonic	Disdainfully or ironically humorous; scornful and mocking- Frank Schoenberner- Irwin Edman. His rebellion is the bitter sardonic laughter of all great satirists.
scathing	Witheringly scornful; severely critical. His scathing remarks about silly lady novelists.
sharp	Having or made by a thin edge or sharp point suitable for cutting or piercing. A sharp worded exchange.
stinging	Characterized by a sharp tingling or burning sensation. The stinging tentacles of the jellyfish.
strange	Not known before. He s a very strange man.
trenchant	Vigorous or incisive in expression or style. A trenchant blade.
unexpected	Not expected or anticipated. Unexpected guests.
weird	Suggesting the operation of supernatural influences. Some trick of the moonlight some weird effect of shadow.
wry	Bent to one side. A wry smile.

Usage Examples of "Ironic" as an adjective

• His mouth curved into an ironic smile.
• An ironic remark often conveys an intended meaning obliquely.
• It was ironic that now everybody had plenty of money for food they couldn't obtain it because everything was rationed.
• An ironical smile.
• An ironic novel.
• It was ironical that the well-planned scheme failed so completely.
• Madness, an ironic fate for such a clear thinker.

Associations of "Ironic" (30 Words)

ambiguity	The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness. We can detect no ambiguity in this section of the Act.
antinomy	A contradiction between two beliefs or conclusions that are in themselves reasonable; a paradox. There are not many short novels capable of accommodating bewildering antinomies.
conflicting	In disagreement. Conflicting opinions.
contradiction	Opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas. The statement he is brave and he is not brave is a contradiction.
contradictory	A contradictory proposition. Perfect and imperfect are contradictory terms.
contrary	A contrary proposition. She is sulky and contrary where her work is concerned.
contrast	A conceptual separation or distinction. His friend s success contrasted with his own failure.
cynical	Doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile. He was brutally cynical and hardened to every sob story under the sun.
cynicism	A cynical feeling of distrust. Public cynicism about politics.
deprecation	The act of expressing disapproval (especially of yourself.
inexplicable	Incapable of being explained or accounted for. Inexplicable errors.
innuendo	An allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one. A constant torrent of innuendo gossip lies and half truths.
ironical	Humorously sarcastic or mocking. It was ironical that the well planned scheme failed so completely.
irony	A trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs. The irony of Ireland s copying the nation she most hated.
oppose	Contrast with equal weight or force. A majority of the electorate opposed EC membership.
opposing	In conflict or competition with someone or something. The brothers fought on opposing sides in the war.
oxymoron	Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence.
paradox	A statement or proposition which, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable or self-contradictory. Parmenides was the original advocate of the philosophical power of paradox.
paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true. By glorifying the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making them trivial.
paradoxically	In a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory way. The strength of capitalism is paradoxically also its weakness.
parody	Make a parody of. The film is a parody of the horror genre.
sarcasm	Witty language used to convey insults or scorn–Jonathan Swif. He used sarcasm to upset his opponent.
sarcastic	Expressing or expressive of ridicule that wounds. I think they re being sarcastic.
sardonic	Grimly mocking or cynical. His rebellion is the bitter sardonic laughter of all great satirists.
satire	A play novel film or other work which uses satire. A number of articles on Elizabethan satire.
satiric	Exposing human folly to ridicule. A persistent campaign of mockery by the satirical fortnightly magazine.
satirical	Exposing human folly to ridicule. His satirical sense of humour.
twist	Do the twist. Barrels with a 1 24 inch twist.
undertone	An underlying quality or feeling. The sexual undertones of most advertising.
wry	Humorously sarcastic or mocking. With a wry Scottish wit.