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Glite Dictionary
antiphrastical

antiphrastical

9.9
To use words to mean the opposite, often to be ironic
  • adjective
  • /ˌæntɪˈfræstɪkəl/
  • Literature
translation icon : antiprástico
  • Her antiphrastical comment, 'What a beautiful mess,' made everyone laugh.

Examples

  • She used an antiphrastical tone when describing the awful movie.

  • Without context, antiphrastical statements can easily be misunderstood.

  • The teacher explained the antiphrastical use of language in classic literature.

  • His antiphrastical remarks made everyone laugh.

  • Her antiphrastical comment, 'What a charming disaster,' highlighted her sense of humor.

  • The professor explained the antiphrastical examples in the play, which added depth to the characters.

  • Using an antiphrastical approach, he quipped about the 'delightful' weather during the storm.

Synonyms

sarcastic
vsantiphrastical
99 4.0

Using words that say the opposite of what you mean to mock or hurt someone

uses opposite word meaning for effect rather than mainly hurting or insulting
ironic
vsantiphrastical
49 4.8

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

uses words in their opposite sense rather than general contradiction
wry
vsantiphrastical
21 7.5

Showing dry, slightly mocking humor and not taking things seriously

uses opposite word meaning directly rather than a mild, dry comic tone
sardonic
vsantiphrastical
9 8.1

Showing mocking, bitter humor that makes fun of people

uses opposite word sense instead of a bitter, contemptuous attitude
ironical
vsantiphrastical
1 7.3

Happening in a way that is the opposite of what was expected

uses opposite word meaning specifically rather than focusing on outcomes

How Ironic

sarcastic
99 4.0
ironic
49 4.8
antiphrastical
  • Literature
9.9
literal
120 3.5

Surface Forms

antiphrastical positive

Morphology

antiphrastical = antiphrastic (opaque) = anti + phrast + ic + al

The word is a regular adjectival extension of the learned form 'antiphrastic', but that base is itself specialized and not fully transparent to average learners.

Etymology

Antiphrastical comes from Greek parts anti- ('against') and phrasis ('speech' or 'saying', like the English word phrase). So, antiphrastical means using words to say the opposite on purpose—for example saying 'Great weather!' in a storm—often to be ironic or sarcastic.