What is verbal irony? - Christopher Warner
2,077,281 Views
43,080 Questions Answered
Let’s Begin…
At face value, the lines between verbal irony, sarcasm, and compliments can be blurry. After all, the phrase 'That looks nice' could be all three depending on the circumstances. In the final of a three part series on irony, Christopher Warner gets into the irony you may use most often and most casually: verbal irony.
Create and share a new lesson based on this one.
About TED-Ed Animations
TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »
Meet The Creators
- Animator Ben Pearce
- Educator Christopher Warner
- Narrator Christopher Warner

by TED-Ed
When is verbal irony useful? Is it ever harmful?
Comments are closed on this discussion.
Barry Gohn
Lesson completed
Verbal irony can be useful in situation as a conversation with someone and trying to make a point or a joke. Verbal irony can be harmful in a situation as if someone were to say “looking fit!” To a guy who’s fat or unfit.
Ken Asilo
Lesson completed
Depending on the context and the situation, verbal irony can be very useful and dangerous at the same time. This is due to the context the audience has about the ironic statement is poking fun of; it often causes more harm than good.
Jasmine Johnson
Lesson completed
Verbal irony can be useful and harmful at the same time because certain situations are based on the way something is said.
Nate Willenbrock
Lesson completed
Verbal irony can be used in different ways the ways he or her can say in different ways and it can come off good or bad and can affect the way you say it.
Camila Vega
Lesson completed
Verbal irony is useful in many ways. Such as bringing up a mood in a conversation. It can be harmful or come off rude when using a direct tone in voice.
Nathan Chang
Lesson completed
Verbal Irony is very useful to add some more enthusiasm to what is said. Using verbal irony is a helpful way to sometimes express different situations. Although it can be used harmfully by how you use your tone, many will laugh it off and go along and let it be.
Estrella Gonzalez
Lesson completed
Verbal irony is useful to make a joke lightheartedly, and to add humour to situation. It's harmful when you know you have bad intentions and say it anyways.
Arianna Mendoza
Lesson completed
Verbal irony does not create any harm. Verbal irony is useful when to used bring humor to a situation, foreshadow events to come or introduce a sense of foreboding.
Valeria Aguilar Magana
Lesson completed
Verbal irony is useful when you want to make a light joke on a situation, it's harmful when you say it in a rude tone or don't use it correctly.
Sayra Diaz
Lesson completed
Verbal irony is practical when having a humor conversation with someone. It is harmful when saying it in a rude tone to someone.