ironic.

Involving a striking difference between what is expected or stated and what actually happens or is meant.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• ironic outcome
• ironic remark

On the page

The warning system failed during its own safety demonstration: an ironic outcome.

Usage notes

Primary category: literary / elevated general. Forms: Comparative more ironic; superlative most ironic when comparison is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Established modern English lexical item. No separate regional spelling or grammatical inflection entry. Commonness: moderately common.