Irony
- “what is irony”
- “is that actually ironic”
- “irony vs sarcasm”
- “situational vs dramatic irony”
01 · Side by side
Side by side
Comparison sheet
| Aspect | Irony | Sarcasm |
|---|---|---|
| Needs a target | No | Yes |
| Intent | Any | To cut |
| Requires a speaker | Not always | Always |
| Can be kind | Yes | Rarely |
| Can be affectionate | Often | Rarely |
| Relationship | The category | A subtype |
02 · Which one you meant
Which one did you mean?
In shortReaders who land here meaning Irony rather than Sarcasm are usually searching for phrases like “what is irony”, “is that actually ironic”, “irony vs sarcasm”.
Sarcasm
- “what is sarcasm”
- “sarcasm vs irony”
- “sarcasm etymology”
- “is sarcasm a form of irony”
03 · Which came first
Which came first
In shortIrony. around 1500 — First English attestation, in the verbal sense: a figure of speech in which the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal one.
- around 1500
Irony. First English attestation, in the verbal sense: a figure of speech in which the intended meaning is the opposite of the literal one.
- 1570s
Sarcasm. First English attestation, as sarcasmus.
04 · The mix-up
Where the confusion comes from
The mix-up“Sarcasm and irony are the same thing.”
What's true
Sarcasm is a SUBTYPE — a nasty, mean-spirited or relatively negative form of verbal irony, typically pointed at a specific individual's failure to meet an expectation. Irony needs no victim; sarcasm requires one.
05 · Read either one
Read either one in full
06 · Tell these apart too