Ironically
adverb
In a way that is unexpected or opposite to what you would normally expect.
Ironically, it was their success that led to their downfall.
Often appears as...
- ironically enough
- ironically
adverb
In a way that shows you mean the opposite of what you're saying.
He ironically called the failed plan 'a great success'.
Often appears as...
- ironically stated
- ironically insists that
adverb
In a way that is unexpected or opposite to what you would normally expect.
Ironically, it was their success that led to their downfall.
Often appears as...
- ironically enough
- ironically
adverb
In a way that shows you mean the opposite of what you're saying.
He ironically called the failed plan 'a great success'.
Often appears as...
- ironically stated
- ironically insists that
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Outcomes
Use 'ironically' to highlight a situation's outcome is the opposite of what was intended or expected.
Ironically, the fire station burned down.
Pro Tip 2/3Plot Twists
'Ironically' often signals a twist in stories, making events more interesting by adding contrast.
Ironically, the thief was robbed.
Pro Tip 3/3Reflective Humor
Use 'ironically' when something is humorously contrary to what one might think, especially in reflective or wry comments.
Ironically, the comedian was speechless.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Outcomes
Use 'ironically' to highlight a situation's outcome is the opposite of what was intended or expected.
Ironically, the fire station burned down.
Pro Tip 2/3Plot Twists
'Ironically' often signals a twist in stories, making events more interesting by adding contrast.
Ironically, the thief was robbed.
Pro Tip 3/3Reflective Humor
Use 'ironically' when something is humorously contrary to what one might think, especially in reflective or wry comments.
Ironically, the comedian was speechless.
Pro Tip 1/3Unexpected Outcomes
Use 'ironically' to highlight a situation's outcome is the opposite of what was intended or expected.
Ironically, the fire station burned down.
Pro Tip 2/3Plot Twists
'Ironically' often signals a twist in stories, making events more interesting by adding contrast.
Ironically, the thief was robbed.
Pro Tip 3/3Reflective Humor
Use 'ironically' when something is humorously contrary to what one might think, especially in reflective or wry comments.
Ironically, the comedian was speechless.
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Video examples
Rescuing the UK's Rarest...
predatory mammals so what you then saw was what was left of the wildcats that had been annihilated were hanging on to western scotland that's where the last wild cats were left and in fact they probably would have gone extinct too were not for the first world war which ironically meant the gamekeepers went to the front lines but didn't come back so the wildcats then began to come back
Video examples
A simple way to break a...
and, ironically, use the same technology that's driving us to distraction to help us step out of our unhealthy habit patterns of smoking, of stress eating and other addictive behaviors. Now, remember that bit about context-dependent memory? We can deliver these tools to peoples' fingertips
Video examples
How we must respond to...
You know, ironically, we have to isolate physically, while in terms of looking at community groups that are pooling resources to help make sure food gets to everyone and help assure medical care, you know, if older people need to be moved out of common facilities,
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
The ensuing power vacuum led to a series of civil wars, during which Brutus, facing certain defeat, took his own life. Ironically, the ultimate result would be the opposite of what the conspirators had hoped to the end of the Republic
Video examples
Amanda Burden: How...
were the comfortable, movable chairs. People would come in, find their own seat, move it a bit, actually, and then stay a while, and then interestingly, people themselves attracted other people, and ironically, I felt more peaceful
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
and I'm just going to get on with my life," ironically, those are the people who are most enslaved by what they have. Shutting out the depression strengthens it. While you hide from it, it grows. And the people who do better
Video examples
How false news can...
thus, ironically, proving the point. And today, the quote, whoever said it, is truer than ever before. In previous decades, most media with global reach consisted of several major newspapers and networks
Video examples
Body Invaders PIPE National...
transformation but ironically one of the greatest dangers the larvae will face is being themselves impregnated by other species of parasitic wasp incredibly the wounded caterpillar helps them out
Video examples
How to deal with...
that had to be written to say what needed to be said to validate my reality even if it was disavowed which it was it was testimony ironically it was my mother who passed on to me the tools
Video examples
The science of cells...
on our mind's and our body's health. And there she was standing in my lab, which ironically overlooked the entrance to a mortuary, and -- And she had a life-and-death question for me.
Video examples
Rescuing the UK's Rarest...
predatory mammals so what you then saw was what was left of the wildcats that had been annihilated were hanging on to western scotland that's where the last wild cats were left and in fact they probably would have gone extinct too were not for the first world war which ironically meant the gamekeepers went to the front lines but didn't come back so the wildcats then began to come back
Video examples
A simple way to break a...
and, ironically, use the same technology that's driving us to distraction to help us step out of our unhealthy habit patterns of smoking, of stress eating and other addictive behaviors. Now, remember that bit about context-dependent memory? We can deliver these tools to peoples' fingertips
Video examples
How we must respond to...
You know, ironically, we have to isolate physically, while in terms of looking at community groups that are pooling resources to help make sure food gets to everyone and help assure medical care, you know, if older people need to be moved out of common facilities,
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
The ensuing power vacuum led to a series of civil wars, during which Brutus, facing certain defeat, took his own life. Ironically, the ultimate result would be the opposite of what the conspirators had hoped to the end of the Republic
Video examples
Amanda Burden: How...
were the comfortable, movable chairs. People would come in, find their own seat, move it a bit, actually, and then stay a while, and then interestingly, people themselves attracted other people, and ironically, I felt more peaceful
Video examples
Depression, the secret...
and I'm just going to get on with my life," ironically, those are the people who are most enslaved by what they have. Shutting out the depression strengthens it. While you hide from it, it grows. And the people who do better
Video examples
How false news can...
thus, ironically, proving the point. And today, the quote, whoever said it, is truer than ever before. In previous decades, most media with global reach consisted of several major newspapers and networks
Video examples
Body Invaders PIPE National...
transformation but ironically one of the greatest dangers the larvae will face is being themselves impregnated by other species of parasitic wasp incredibly the wounded caterpillar helps them out
Video examples
How to deal with...
that had to be written to say what needed to be said to validate my reality even if it was disavowed which it was it was testimony ironically it was my mother who passed on to me the tools
Video examples
The science of cells...
on our mind's and our body's health. And there she was standing in my lab, which ironically overlooked the entrance to a mortuary, and -- And she had a life-and-death question for me.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Alanna Ubach
American Actress
Unfortunately, we are a society that does look down on divorce when, ironically, there are more single divorced people in the world right now. So, the fact of the matter is that it's a reality, and more people should obviously embrace wanting to change, wanting to move on from a relationship that just no longer works for them.
Quote examples
Marianne Williamson
American Author
Ironically, it is when we identify with our spirits rather than our bodies that we are most powerful on the material plane. Our overidentification with the world does not give us power within the world so much as it diminishes our power here. It makes us frightened and nervous and full of anxiety.
Quote examples
Mike Quigley
American Politician
Ironically enough, why I got into politics is because I came to the conclusion that if you wanted to save the world, which in my mind was through the environment, those elected officials seemed to be the ones who made a lot of the important decisions, if not the most important decisions.
Quote examples
Ethan Hawke
American Actor
One of the things that separates a good genre movie from a bad genre movie, I always think, ironically, is when you care about the people. The dime a dozen ones are where you don't have any awareness of the character.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are, and the less you complain, the more likely you are to be taken for granted.
Quote examples
Lionel Shriver
American Journalist
Ironically, heavier comedians, actors, and the characters they play are actually more sympathetic, and easier for audiences to identify with, than the svelte.
Quote examples
Paul Auster
American Author
I'm generous. I give good tips. It's just - the way I live my life, ironically enough, is: I don't want anything. I'm not a consumer. I don't crave objects.
Quote examples
Geoff Downes
English Musician
Ironically I think this is what sparked my interest in and passion for the NOAH, which is capable of creating all these old weird and wonderful sounds.
Quote examples
Frank Abagnale
American Celebrity
Most people don't recognize me, but they know my name. TSA people rarely recognize my name, ironically, and they are the security people.
Quote examples
Roy Lichtenstein
American Artist
When I have used cartoon images, I've used them ironically to raise the question, 'Why would anyone want to do this with modern painting?
Quote examples
Alanna Ubach
American Actress
Unfortunately, we are a society that does look down on divorce when, ironically, there are more single divorced people in the world right now. So, the fact of the matter is that it's a reality, and more people should obviously embrace wanting to change, wanting to move on from a relationship that just no longer works for them.
Quote examples
Marianne Williamson
American Author
Ironically, it is when we identify with our spirits rather than our bodies that we are most powerful on the material plane. Our overidentification with the world does not give us power within the world so much as it diminishes our power here. It makes us frightened and nervous and full of anxiety.
Quote examples
Mike Quigley
American Politician
Ironically enough, why I got into politics is because I came to the conclusion that if you wanted to save the world, which in my mind was through the environment, those elected officials seemed to be the ones who made a lot of the important decisions, if not the most important decisions.
Quote examples
Ethan Hawke
American Actor
One of the things that separates a good genre movie from a bad genre movie, I always think, ironically, is when you care about the people. The dime a dozen ones are where you don't have any awareness of the character.
Quote examples
Gretchen Rubin
American Author
Being taken for granted is an unpleasant but sincere form of praise. Ironically, the more reliable you are, and the less you complain, the more likely you are to be taken for granted.
Quote examples
Lionel Shriver
American Journalist
Ironically, heavier comedians, actors, and the characters they play are actually more sympathetic, and easier for audiences to identify with, than the svelte.
Quote examples
Paul Auster
American Author
I'm generous. I give good tips. It's just - the way I live my life, ironically enough, is: I don't want anything. I'm not a consumer. I don't crave objects.
Quote examples
Geoff Downes
English Musician
Ironically I think this is what sparked my interest in and passion for the NOAH, which is capable of creating all these old weird and wonderful sounds.
Quote examples
Frank Abagnale
American Celebrity
Most people don't recognize me, but they know my name. TSA people rarely recognize my name, ironically, and they are the security people.
Quote examples
Roy Lichtenstein
American Artist
When I have used cartoon images, I've used them ironically to raise the question, 'Why would anyone want to do this with modern painting?
Example 1 of 10
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