What literary device uses words opposite to their intended meaning?

Verbal irony is a literary device in which a speaker says one thing but means another, often using words that convey a meaning opposite to their literal sense. This can create a layer of meaning that implies sarcasm, humor, or a deeper truth that is not immediately obvious. For example, if someone looks out at a stormy sea and comments on the "lovely weather," they are not seriously praising the weather but rather suggesting the opposite through their statement.

This distinction is critical in many forms of literature and speech, as it adds complexity to dialogue and character interactions. In contrast, dramatic irony involves the audience knowing something that the characters do not, situational irony occurs when there is a significant difference between what is expected and what actually happens, and personification gives human traits or qualities to non-human entities or inanimate objects. Each of these devices serves different purposes in storytelling and communication.