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ironic praise

Device
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

A rhetorical strategy where praise is used ironically to underscore flaws, failures, or hypocrisy.

Detailed Definition
Ironic praise employs laudatory language to actually criticize, mock, or undermine its ostensible subject through contextual cues that signal insincerity. This rhetorical strategy appears to compliment while actually condemning, relying on reader recognition of the gap between literal statement and implied meaning.
Example
Example in poetry:
Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” uses ironic praise to critique British policy; Alexander Pope’s “Epistle to Dr. Arbuthnot” employs ironic praise for false friends; Contemporary poet Tracy K. Smith’s “The United States Welcomes You” uses ironic praise: “Open your mouths”; W.H. Auden’s “The Unknown Citizen” uses ironic praise to expose dehumanization; Sylvia Plath’s “Daddy” uses ironic praise: “I used to pray to recover you”; Ocean Vuong’s “Aubade with Burning City” uses ironic praise by setting war elegy to disco song.
Additional Notes
Language that appears complimentary on the surface but contains underlying mockery or sarcasm, praising while actually criticizing.
Also Known As
Mock praise Satirical compliment Backhanded praise Ironic flattery Diasyrm mock compliment
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