striking irony

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "striking irony" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation that is unexpectedly contrary to what one would expect, often highlighting a poignant or humorous contrast. Example: "It was a striking irony that the fire station burned down while the firefighters were responding to another emergency."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But it also remains a striking irony, because the first thing you notice about Refn is that he's a bit of a wuss, in the nicest possible way.

The Guardian - Film

If the American version is true, it is a striking irony: In the early years of the drone campaign, the Pakistani Army falsely claimed responsibility for American drone strikes in an attempt to mask C.I.A. activities on its soil.

The New York Times

The most striking change has been the growing centrality of the black experience to the maturing national culture of the United States; the most striking irony has been the degree to which blacks, despite that centrality, have remained economically marginal.

The New Yorker

In a review of corporal punishment in the United States, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toledo Michelle Knox noted a striking irony in the American attitude toward corporal punishment: "In the United States, it is against the law to hit prisoners, criminals or other adults.

Independent

But it is a striking irony that a musical dramatist who was himself more politically engaged than any of his peers (he was heavily involved in the Risorgimento and sat for a time in the Italian Senate) seemed in his mature operas profoundly pessimistic about the possibility of political progress.

The Guardian - Music

In a striking irony, the climate change COP at which these corporate interests will be welcome will happen at exactly the same time as another UN COP, where the exclusion of corporate interests has been hailed as a fundamental ingredient to its success: COP7 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, starting today in Delhi, India.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

If this is truly the Decline and Fall of the Clinton Empire, it is marked by one freaky stroke of bad luck and one striking historical irony.

The New York Times

Set in the years before and after the Russian Revolution, this passionately candid yet unsentimental novel about a woman's three defining love affairs is notable for its striking absence of irony as it allows people to speak ingenuously about the things that matter to them, including happiness.

The New York Times - Books

I can't confirm why this happened because Newsquest refuses to respond to press queries (yes, the irony is striking).

The Guardian

A shift to the left, or, at least, to the center, has overtaken Michael Moore, yielding an irony more striking than any he turns up: the changes in political consciousness that Moore himself has helped produce have rendered his latest film almost superfluous.

The New Yorker

The irony has been striking; the federal agency tasked with ensuring the prevention of fraud, waste and abuse in government purchasing is now on the defensive for some outrageous spending itself.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "striking irony" to highlight a situation where there is a significant and noticeable contrast between what is expected and what actually occurs. This emphasizes the unexpected nature of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "striking irony" for minor coincidences or trivial events. Save it for situations where the contrast is truly significant and impactful to maintain its rhetorical effect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "striking irony" functions as a noun phrase where "striking" modifies "irony". It emphasizes the unexpected or paradoxical nature of a situation. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "striking irony" is a grammatically sound phrase used to emphasize a significant and noticeable contrast between what is expected and what occurs. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. According to Ludwig, it is deemed correct and usable in written English. When writing, consider using it to underscore the paradoxical nature of events but avoid overuse in trivial situations. Alternatives include "remarkable incongruity" or "obvious paradox" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ironic twist

Uses "twist" to emphasize the surprising or unexpected turn of events, which is ironic.

remarkable incongruity

Replaces "irony" with "incongruity" focusing on the mismatch or inconsistency, and "striking" with "remarkable", highlighting the noteworthiness of the incongruity.

sheer irony

Replaces "striking" with "sheer" to intensify the feeling of irony.

glaring contradiction

Substitutes "irony" with "contradiction" emphasizing the conflicting elements, and "striking" with "glaring" to suggest it's very obvious.

bitter irony

Adds a negative emotional tone to the irony, suggesting it is unpleasant or regrettable.

obvious paradox

Replaces "irony" with "paradox" which is a statement that appears self-contradictory, and "striking" with "obvious" for emphasis.

noticeable reversal

Focuses on the element of reversal or change, making it noticeable rather than just ironic.

palpable incongruity

Uses "palpable" to emphasize the tangibility or obviousness of the incongruity.

clear inconsistency

Highlights the lack of alignment or agreement, making it clear and evident.

significant antithesis

Emphasizes a direct opposition or contrast that is significant.

FAQs

How can "striking irony" be used in a sentence?

Use "striking irony" to introduce a situation where the outcome is the opposite of what one would expect. For instance, "It's a "striking irony" that the fitness instructor suffered a heart attack".

What are some alternatives to saying "striking irony"?

You can use alternatives like "remarkable incongruity", "glaring contradiction", or "obvious paradox" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "striking irony"?

While "irony" itself implies a contrast, using "striking irony" emphasizes the magnitude and obviousness of that contrast. It is not necessarily redundant if you wish to highlight the significance of the ironic situation.

What's the difference between "striking irony" and "tragic irony"?

"Striking irony" simply highlights a significant and noticeable contrast. "Tragic irony", on the other hand, involves a situation where the audience knows something the characters do not, leading to a tragic outcome.