ironically

adverb

iron·​i·​cal·​ly ˌī-ˈrä-ni-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce ironically (audio)
also i-ˈrä-
1
: in an ironic manner
2
: it is ironic, curious, or surprising

Examples of ironically in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But a seven or eight-win season and a nice bowl game would be a great start, which, ironically enough, represented Napier's ceiling. — Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 The team determined that meteorites that reach terra firma ironically went through more melting and fragmentation, which slowed them down enought to actually land. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Yet, the culmination of her career, ironically, came back to family, with law itself. — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 This debate has been fiercely stifled by current politicians, including Sanae Takaichi—who is, ironically, the first female prime minister in Japanese history. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ironically

Word History

First Known Use

1576, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ironically was in 1576

Rhymes for ironically

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Browse Nearby Words

ironic
ironically
ironicalness
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Cite this Entry

“Ironically.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ironically. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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