- 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.”
- 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.
- it is ironic that
- in an ironic manner
