ironic tone
Saying opposite meaning
An ironic tone conveys meaning through deliberate contrast between what's said and what's meant.
The speaker's delivery signals that words should be understood as their opposite or as skeptical commentary: Oh, great, another meeting when meetings are dreaded.
Ironic tone relies on context, inflection, or shared understanding to land—without these cues, irony risks being taken literally.
- sarcasmIrony used to mock
- parodySatirical imitation
- witClever, inventive humor
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- heavy sighForceful exhale expressing weariness
mockery · bemusement · double entendre · deadpan · subversion · skepticism · world-weary · satire · too clever · tragicomedy · paradox · understatement · metafiction · tongue in cheek · snide · oh really · eye roll · backhanded compliment
- ironysarcasm
- Jack Vance