Which type of irony involves saying the opposite of what is meant, often used in sarcasm?

Verbal irony is characterized by a speaker saying one thing but meaning another, often expressing a contrast that can be perceived as sarcastic. This type of irony relies heavily on the tone and context in which the words are spoken, creating a gap between the literal meaning of the words and the intended message.

For instance, if someone looks out at a rainy day and says, “What lovely weather we’re having,” they are using verbal irony to convey their true feelings about the unpleasant weather. This device is frequently employed in literature and everyday conversation to add depth, humor, or criticism, inviting the audience to recognize the discrepancy between expectation and reality.

The other options do not fit this description. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters do not, creating tension based on this knowledge. Atmosphere refers to the overall emotional feeling evoked by a literary work, while dialogue pertains to the spoken exchanges between characters. Therefore, verbal irony is the most fitting answer to the question, as it specifically involves the use of contrasting meanings within spoken language.