noun
A statement that means the opposite of its literal meaning, often used for effect.
彼の「ありがとう」は反語だった。
His 'thank you' was ironic.
noun
rhetorical question
A question asked not to get an answer but to make a point or produce an effect.
「誰がそんなことをするだろうか」は反語の例だ。
'Who would do such a thing?' is an example of a rhetorical question.