variants
also ironical
as in acidic
marked by an often negative or mocking form of wit in which words are used to express something different to their literal meaning
a book written in an ironic style an ironic sense of humor
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ironic
Rob Blake’s departure as general manager, which team president Luc Robitaille insisted was voluntary, comes at an ironic time.
—
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 10 May 2025
In the absence of such confidence, the aesthetic would be frivolous and decadent, or bitterly ironic.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
This is especially — and tragically — ironic because the current problems derive largely from the largest peacetime expansion of the money supply in at least a century.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 11 May 2025
Pilecki’s life ended on a particularly bitter and darkly ironic note.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ironic
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 10 May 2025
In the absence of such confidence, the aesthetic would be frivolous and decadent, or bitterly ironic.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
This is especially — and tragically — ironic because the current problems derive largely from the largest peacetime expansion of the money supply in at least a century.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 11 May 2025
Pilecki’s life ended on a particularly bitter and darkly ironic note.
—Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for ironic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ironic
Adjective
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The way the soil responds will give you an idea of whether your soil is acidic, alkaline, or neutral.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
27 May 2025
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The acidic soil at Sutton Hoo, which rotted away the wood of the Anglo-Saxon ship and only left impressions of planks and rows of iron rivets, means that many of the bone combs previously found at Sutton Hoo have not been well-preserved, Howarth said.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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The British showrunner of that blisteringly cynical drama spent five years and 39 episodes giving us a portrait of filthy rich people pulling strings and behaving badly.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
31 May 2025
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But the message at the heart of Isle of Dogs, that saving others is the only way to save one’s self, is enough to turn the most cynical viewer into a believer—and maybe even a dog lover.—
Shannon Carlin,
Time,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Azaleas do like an acid soil and grow best when the soil acidity is in the pH range of 4.5 to 5.5.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2025
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Fluoride also replaces minerals lost from teeth due to acid breakdown, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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He’s regarded as someone who’s down-to-earth, a tremendous teammate and a dressing room cutup thanks to his quick and wry sense of humour.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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The sense of incidence with which May ’68 plays out, far in the background, speaks to a film for which the political is of little importance, or at least one that reflects the political through wry non-confrontations.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Hired as a live-in caretaker in the opulent home, Ana Maria (Jenny Navarrete), a pregnant Colombian immigrant in Panama City hiding a major secret, develops a genuine bond with the initially standoffish Mechi, making for an unassumingly poignant and superbly acted two-hander.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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Attendees can learn more about the late first lady’s passion work as an advocate for the environment and her passion for wildflowers during this poignant, humorous portrayal by Goddard, an actress and historian.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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These innocuous-seeming actions can kindle dry vegetation, potentially spawning a wildfire.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
30 May 2025
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In the Colorado River Basin, April and May were very dry.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Still, Ernst shared a sarcastic apology video after facing criticism from Democrats over her response to the town hall attendees' concerns.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
2 June 2025
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The vibe, never exactly cheerful, and never leavened by a hint of even the most sarcastic sense of humor, takes a turn for the horrific one evening in the wake of the bawdy revels celebrating Tomek’s wedding.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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All Systems Red is a legible introduction to Wells’ hyper-capitalist, playfully satiric galaxy.—
Rory Doherty,
Time,
16 May 2025
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That’s the premise of Douglas Is Cancelled, a cruelly funny 2024 BBC sitcom that seems very much in sync with satiric comedies such as The Office and W1A and Yes Minister.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ironic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ironic. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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