A speaker who employs ________ says just the opposite of what he or she really means.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Verbal irony is when a speaker says something but means the opposite. Therefore, this is the best choice for the given scenario. Hyperbole is an exaggeration and a pun is a play on words, neither of which fit the description of saying the opposite of what is meant. A spoonerism is when the initial sounds or letters of two or more words are swapped, but this is not relevant to the scenario described.

A Speaker Who Employs ________ Says Just the Opposite of What