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verbal irony

American  
[vur-buhl ahy-ruh-nee, ahyer-] / ˈvɜr bəl ˈaɪ rə ni, ˈaɪər- /

noun

  1. irony in which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning.

Etymology

Origin of verbal irony

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This is verbal irony, or in ’90s parlance, sarcasm.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

This is verbal irony, or in '90s parlance, sarcasm.

From Salon • Nov. 29, 2024

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.