noun
- Plural of antiphrase; the use of words in a sense opposite to their literal meaning, typically for ironic or humorous effect.
Usage: Literary and rhetorical term; Related to irony and sarcasm
Examples
- The critic's antiphrases made it clear she despised the film, calling it 'a masterpiece of modern cinema.'
- His use of antiphrases—saying 'What a beautiful day!' during a thunderstorm—amused his friends.
- Antiphrases are common in satire, where writers say the opposite of what they mean.
- The author employed antiphrases throughout the novel to highlight the protagonist's bitter worldview.