antiphrasis

9.9

Using a word to mean the opposite to make a joke or show irony

noun
/ˌæntɪˈfræsɪs/

Literature

: antiprasis

When he called the giant man 'tiny,' it was a clear case of antiphrasis that made everyone laugh.

Examples

One finds in both all the devices of substitution engendered by taboo: euphemism, allusion, antiphrasis, preterition, litotes.

Academic text (1990)
Describing a long meeting as 'quick' is an ironic use of antiphrasis that highlights its tediousness.
Using 'coward' to describe a brave soldier is an example of antiphrasis meant to create irony.

Synonyms

irony

vsantiphrasis

165 4.1

Saying the opposite of what you mean to be funny or critical

is narrower, limited to single words or phrases used in opposite sense

How Ironic

sarcasm

109 3.9

irony

205 4.6

antiphrasis

Literature

9.9

Surface Forms

antiphrasis singular

antiphrases plural

Morphology

antiphrasis = phrasis (semi-transparent) = anti + phrasis

The word is built from the recognizable prefix 'anti-' plus a learned form meaning 'expression', but the specialized rhetorical sense is not fully predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Antiphrasis comes from Greek parts anti- meaning 'against' and phrasis meaning 'speech', and it is related to the English word phrase. So antiphrasis is when someone says a word but means the opposite to be ironic or funny, for example calling a very tall person 'Shorty'.