What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
ironically
Example
Ironically, the fire station burned down. [ironically: adverb]
Example
He claimed to be an expert on healthy eating, but ironically he was overweight. [ironically: adverb]
contrarily
Example
Contrarily to popular belief, not all cats hate water. [contrarily: adverb]
Example
She contrarily refused to follow the dress code and wore jeans to the formal event. [contrarily: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Ironically is more commonly used than contrarily in everyday language. Ironically is often used in casual conversation and writing, while contrarily is more commonly used in formal writing or academic contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between ironically and contrarily?
Contrarily is generally considered more formal than ironically. While ironically can be used in both formal and informal contexts, contrarily is typically reserved for more formal settings.
