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Antiphrasis

Rhetorical Devices
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

The use of a word or phrase to mean its opposite, often sarcastically or ironically. The intended meaning depends on context.

Detailed Definition
Antiphrasis names someone or something with language that sharply contradicts its actual nature. Calling a destructive storm “gentle weather” or a cruel ruler “our tender guardian” can expose the gap between words and reality. In poetry, the device may produce bitter irony, comic understatement, or political critique. Its force comes from the reader’s recognition that the literal praise or description cannot be accepted at face value.
Example
Example in poetry:
“What a lovely storm,” says the sailor as the mast breaks, meaning the opposite of lovely; “Brilliant timing,” the speaker says when the train leaves just as she arrives; “This is a fine paradise,” says a prisoner in a freezing cell; “Dear saint,” the poem calls a cruel ruler, using praise ironically as blame
Additional Notes
Antiphrasis says the opposite of what is meant, often through tone or context. Calling a disaster “perfect” may convey frustration. Readers should look for clues that prevent mistaking irony for literal praise; it is closely related to sarcasm.
Other Meanings of “Antiphrasis”
Also Known As
Ironical Inversion
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