Socratic irony

[ suh-krat-ik ahy-ruh-nee, ahy er-, soh- ]

/ səˈkræt ɪk ˈaɪ rə ni, ˈaɪ ər-, soʊ- /

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See synonyms for Socratic irony on Thesaurus.com

noun

pretended ignorance in discussion.

QUIZ

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IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

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Origin of Socratic irony

First recorded in 1870–75

Words nearby Socratic irony

socle, socman, Socotra, Socrates, Socratic, Socratic irony, Socratic method, Socred, sod, soda, soda ash

How to use Socratic irony in a sentence

It may be fun and it may get them paid, until oversaturation ruins our sense for irony and destroys the market for it.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The irony did not escape one local, Laith Hathim, as he stood and watched the newly minted refugees make their way into Mosul.
Has the Kurdish Victory at Sinjar Turned the Tide of ISIS War?|Niqash|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The irony has thinned with the economy, perhaps: Who can really afford just to pretend to DIY today?
Glenn Beck Is Now Selling Hipster Clothes. Really.|Ana Marie Cox|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The root of the word irony is in the Greek eironeia, “liar.”
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Lacking any sense of irony, Eldridge made campaign-finance reform a signature plank.
The Rise and Fall of Chris Hughes and Sean Eldridge, America’s Worst Gay Power Couple|James Kirchick|December 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
This unreasoning, feminine obstinacy so wrought upon him that he permitted himself a smile and a lapse into irony and banter.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Today her irony was concealed, but, like a carefully-covered fire, he knew it was burning still.
Bella Donna|Robert Hichens
Barrington winced a little, for he recognized the irony in the failing voice, but he rose and moved towards the bed.
Winston of the Prairie|Harold Bindloss
As you will see, I was unable to end my letter without a touch of impertinent irony, which proved how much in love I still was.
Camille (La Dame aux Camilias)|Alexandre Dumas, fils
Ovid looked a bit doubtful, but Scattergood's voice was so interested, so bland, that any suspicion of irony was allayed.
Scattergood Baines|Clarence Budington Kelland

British Dictionary definitions for Socratic irony

Socratic irony

noun

philosophy a means by which the pretended ignorance of a skilful questioner leads the person answering to expose his own ignorance

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012