French word

ironiser

Pronunciation

IPA/iʁonize/

Meaning

  • verbbe sarcastic

Example

Il aime ironiser sur tout.

He likes to be sarcastic about everything.

Illustration for ironiser (be sarcastic)

More examples

Elle ironise souvent quand elle est gênée.

She is often sarcastic when she feels embarrassed.

Core concept

A remark points one way while its intended criticism points another.

Common phrases

  • ironiser sur quelqu'un

    be sarcastic about someone

  • ironiser sur quelque chose

    be sarcastic about something

Similar words

se moquer de: Laugh at someone or something they have done.
taquiner: Playfully tease someone without serious malice.
ridiculiser: Ridicule someone in a way that makes them look foolish and ashamed.
tourner en dérision: Treat someone or something as ridiculous for others to laugh at.

Definition in French

Exprimer une moquerie ou une critique par sous-entendu, souvent en énonçant le contraire de ce que l'on pense.

Word origin

French ironiser is formed from ironie with the suffix -iser; ironie comes through Latin ironia from Greek eirōneía.

Usage tips

  • Ironiser commonly takes sur, as in ironiser sur tout, rather than a direct object.

Other meanings

  • be ironicverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word