Which device conveys the opposite of its literal meaning?

• A. Irony
• B. Metonymy
• C. Onomatopoeia
• D. Oxymoron

Answer: (A)

Irony is when language expresses something opposite to its surface meaning, or when the outcome is different from what would be expected. Verbal irony, in particular, uses words that say one thing but mean the opposite, often for humor or critique—for example, saying “great turnout” when nobody came. Oxymoron mixes contradictory terms in a single phrase (like “deafening silence”) to create a paradox, but it doesn’t inherently convey the opposite of what is literally said. Metonymy substitutes the name of something closely related for what’s actually meant, and onomatopoeia imitates sounds. So the device that best fits “conveys the opposite of its literal meaning” is irony, especially verbal irony.