happening in a way that is contrary to what is expected, often with a humorous or sarcastic effect
example
It's ironic that the firefighter's house burned down while he was out saving others from a fire.
synonyms
sarcasticparadoxicalunexpected
word origin — The word 'ironic' originates from the Greek 'eironeia', meaning 'dissimulation' or 'feigned ignorance'. It was later adopted into Latin and then into English in the early 17th century.
SAT Vocabulary Level 2 — Set 188
Set 188 of SAT Vocabulary Level 2 covers 5 words: ironic, interpersonal, devoid, obnoxious, aural. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
ironic · adjective/aɪˈrɑːnɪk/
happening in a way that is contrary to what is expected, often with a humorous or sarcastic effect
It's ironic that the firefighter's house burned down while he was out saving others from a fire.
Synonyms: sarcastic, paradoxical, unexpected
Origin: The word 'ironic' originates from the Greek 'eironeia', meaning 'dissimulation' or 'feigned ignorance'. It was later adopted into Latin and then into English in the early 17th century.
interpersonal · adjective/ˌɪntərˈpɜrsənl/
relating to relationships or communication between people
Effective interpersonal communication is essential for building strong relationships in the workplace.
Synonyms: social, relational, communicative
Origin: Originates from the prefix 'inter-' meaning 'between' and 'personal' from Latin 'personalis', which derives from 'persona' meaning 'person'.
devoid · adjective/dɪˈvɔɪd/
completely lacking or absent of something
The landscape was devoid of any vegetation, making it look desolate and lifeless.
Synonyms: deprived, lacking, bare
Origin: Middle English 'devoid', from Old French 'devoide', from Latin 'devorare' meaning 'to empty'
obnoxious · adjective/əbˈnɑk.ʃəs/
highly offensive or annoying
His obnoxious behavior at the party made everyone uncomfortable and eager to leave.
Synonyms: offensive, irritating, repugnant
Origin: The word 'obnoxious' originates from the Latin 'obnoxius', meaning 'exposed to harm', or 'offensive'. It entered Middle English in the 15th century.
aural · adjective/ˈɔːrəl/
relating to the sense of hearing
The audiologist conducted various aural (adjective) tests to assess the patient's hearing ability.
Synonyms: auditory, acoustic, hearing
Origin: from Latin 'auralis', derived from 'auris' meaning 'ear'