Definition

Noun: A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used in a sense opposite to its literal or usual meaning, typically for ironic or humorous effect.

Usage

The word "antiphrasis" is a formal, literary term used in rhetoric and literary analysis. It describes a specific technique where the intended meaning is the opposite of the word's literal meaning. It is a form of verbal irony.

Examples

• Calling a very tall person "Tiny" is a clear example of antiphrasis.
• The author's use of antiphrasis was evident when he described the chaotic, disastrous party as "an elegantly managed affair."
• Saying "What a pleasant surprise" when something annoying happens is a common, everyday form of antiphrasis.

Advanced Usage

• As a rhetorical device: In classical rhetoric, antiphrasis is categorized under tropes, specifically as a type of irony. It is used to create emphasis, satire, or sarcasm by highlighting the contrast between the word said and the reality described.
• Context-dependence: The ironic meaning of antiphrasis is entirely dependent on context and the shared understanding between the speaker and the audience. Without this, it may be misinterpreted.

Variants and Related Words

• Antiphrastic (adjective): Pertaining to or characterized by antiphrasis.
  • His antiphrastic praise was actually severe criticism.

Synonyms

• Verbal Irony: The broader category in which antiphrasis resides; using language to express something other than, and especially the opposite of, the literal meaning.
• Irony: A situation or use of language involving an incongruity or contradiction, often between expectation and reality.

Antonyms

• Literalness: Adherence to the explicit or primary meaning of a word or text.
• Euphemism: The use of a mild or indirect word in place of one considered too harsh or blunt (which softens rather than inverts meaning).

Related Idioms and Phrases

(While not idioms themselves, these phrases describe the concept.) * To say the opposite of what one means: A plain description of the act of using antiphrasis. * Ironic understatement: A related form of irony where something is intentionally represented as less than it is, which can involve antiphrasis (e.g., calling a major disaster "a bit of a problem").

Noun

1. the use of a word in a sense opposite to its normal sense (especially in irony)