Is this irony? If so, is irony figurative language?

Question

He had a wonderful quality of bringin out the worst in anybody.

Answer 1

Irony is a literary or rhetorical device, in which there is an incongruity or discordance between what a speaker / writer /actor says or does, and what he or she means or what is generally understood.

In modern usage, it can refer to incongruity between the intended meaning of an action and the actual or perceived meaning of an action.

So, your examply is ironic. There an incongruity because a "wonderful quality" would be something positive whereas in your example the 'wonderful quality' brings out the worst' which can not be considered a 'wonderfuly quality'.

Answer 2

definition of irony:

a. The use of words to express something different from and often opposite to their literal meaning.

b.  An expression or utterance marked by a deliberate contrast between apparent and intended meaning.

c. A literary style employing such contrasts for humorous or rhetorical effect.

Yes, what you said has an ironic quality to it.