Irony is a noun referring to a contrast between expectations and reality, often used for humorous or emphatic effect. It can describe situations, expressions, or statements where the intended meaning diverges from the literal or expected meaning. The term often implies subtle critique or sarcasm, and it frequently involves incongruity between appearance and outcome.
"The irony of the situation was that the lifeguard drowned in a small kiddie pool."
"Her compliment carried an ironic sting, masking annoyance with feigned praise."
"Despite studying hard, he failed the exam; the irony did not escape him."
"Saving money for years, he bought a lavish gadget the day it went on sale, a perfect irony of priorities."
Irony originates from the 16th century French ironie, derived from Latin ironia, and ultimately from Greek eirōneía 'dissembler, dissembler, what is said with feigned gentleness.' The core idea shifted from a rhetorical device meaning an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant, to a broader sense of a discrepancy between appearance and reality. Early uses in English often referred to dramatic irony in literature, where the audience knows more than the characters. By the 17th–18th centuries, the term extended to social critique and literary tone, becoming a staple in discussing humor that exposes incongruity. In modern language, irony covers verbal irony (saying the opposite of what one means), situational irony (outcome is opposite of expectation), and dramatic irony (audience understands more than characters). The word’s meaning has evolved to include gentle, humorous contradiction as well as pointed sarcasm in everyday speech. First known use in English dates to the 18th century, with earlier roots traced to classical rhetorical tradition and satire. Today, irony remains a central concept in literary theory, cultural critique, and humor studies, frequently invoked to highlight discrepancy between intention and effect.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Irony" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Irony" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Irony"
-ony sounds
-ney sounds
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Pronounce as ˈaɪ.rə.ni in US/UK. Start with the long 'I' vowel /aɪ/ as in 'eye,' then a soft 'ruh' /rə/ with schwa-ish vowel, and end with /ni/ 'knee' sounding like 'knee.' Primary stress on the first syllable. Listen for a smooth, three-syllable flow: EYE-ruh-nee. Audio references include standard dictionaries; you can also hear examples on Forvo and YouGlish.
Two common errors: (1) Over-pronouncing the middle syllable as /riː/ or /riə/ leading to 'EYE-ree-nee' rather than 'EYE-ruh-nee.' (2) Placing secondary stress or misplacing it on the second syllable, which weakens the word’s natural rhythm. Correction: keep the primary stress on the first syllable /ˈaɪ/ and reduce the middle to a quick /rə/ (schwa). Practicing with minimal pairs can help you stabilize the flow.
In US and UK, primary stress remains on the first syllable: US /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/, UK /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/ or /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/ with a slightly reduced central vowel in the second syllable. Australian tends to align with US/UK on syllable stress, but vowel quality may shift: /ˈaɪ.ɹə.ni/ with clearer 'r' coloring in American rhotic speech and a flatter /ə/ in non-rhotic varieties. All share three syllables, but vowel duration and rhoticity subtly influence rhythm and vowel height.
The difficulty lies in maintaining a light, unstressed middle syllable while preserving the long 'I' onset and clear final 'ee' ending. The middle /ə/ is a weak, quick vowel that can be easily reduced or carries a reduced vowel, making 'EYE-ruh-nee' versus 'EYE-rye-nee' a common slip. Also, the sequence /ɹ/ followed by /ə/ can blend, especially in rapid speech. Practice with connected speech drills to stabilize the rhythm.
In careful speech or emphasis, you may hear slight secondary stress on the second syllable in some accents to underline irony in a sentence, but this is rare and typically not standard. The canonical form keeps primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈaɪ.rə.ni/. Shifting stress can alter meaning or emphasis subtly, so use it sparingly and only when the context demands highlighting 'Irony' as a rhetorical device.
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