antiphrasis

noun

Meaning

The rhetorical use of a word in a sense opposite to its literal meaning, typically for ironic or humorous effect.

Examples

  • The comedian used antiphrasis to describe the disastrous party as a 'resounding success.'
  • Calling a tiny, cramped apartment a 'spacious palace' is a classic example of antiphrasis.

Synonyms: irony, sarcasm, enantiosis, satire