ironically

[ahy-ron-ik-lee]

adverb

1. in a way that uses words to mean the opposite of what they normally mean, or makes an obvious exaggeration or understatement, as a joke or in order to make a point.

   French author Voltaire ironically commented on war, “It is forbidden to kill; therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.”

2. in a way that is the opposite of what would be expected, often as a remarkable coincidence.

   Ironically, one of the main messages of this text on warfare is how to avoid battle through meticulous preparation and planning.

Other Word Forms

• nonironically adverb
• semi-ironically adverb
• unironically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ironically¹

First recorded in 1530–40; ironical ( def. ) + -ly

Example Sentences

Yet if people view them as very human, this could, ironically, be making users vulnerable to emotional manipulation—which could lead to all sorts of bad outcomes.

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The Hammers, who sit 19th in the table, have recorded just one win this season and ironically it arrived against Nottingham Forest, when Nuno was in charge at the City Ground.

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Its full potential is still being uncovered—often, ironically, with funding that originated from Western development assistance and scientific partnerships.

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And ironically, again, it is the Democrats who are preventing that.

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The resilience of the stock market is, ironically, exactly what is driving some of the jitters.

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Related Words

• amusingly www.thesaurus.com
• jokingly www.thesaurus.com