ironically

3 definitions • 4 examples

in a way that is interesting, strange, or funny because of being very different from what you would expect:

Ironically, these technological tools that were supposed to liberate us have left us working longer hours than ever.

in a way that suggests you mean the opposite of what you are saying, or are not serious:

The tone of the novel is ironically comic.

She smiled ironically.

in a way that is different or opposite from the result you would expect:

Ironically, his ability as an inventor made him a poor administrator, and he had one business failure after another.