ironical
UK: /aɪˈrɒnɪkəl/ | US: /aɪˈrɑːnɪkəl/
adj. expressing irony; meaning the opposite of what is literally said
adj. humorously sarcastic or mocking
adj. contrary to what is expected, often amusingly so
The word "ironical" derives from "irony," which traces back to the Greek "eirōneia" (feigned ignorance or dissimulation). The suffix "-ic" (from Greek "-ikos") forms adjectives, and "-al" (Latin "-alis") further emphasizes adjectival quality. Over time, "irony" evolved to describe a rhetorical device where meaning is contrary to literal expression, and "ironical" emerged as its adjectival form, capturing nuances of sarcasm or unexpected outcomes.
His ironical smile suggested he didn’t believe a word she said.
The movie’s ironical twist left the audience in stunned silence.
She delivered the praise in an ironical tone, making it clear she meant the opposite.
It was ironical that the fire station burned down due to faulty wiring.
His ironical comment about the weather being "perfect" during a storm made everyone laugh.