An oxymoron (plurals: oxymorons and oxymora) is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction. Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. However, the explicit advertisement of the use of oxymorons opened up a sliding scale of less than obvious construction, ending in the "opinion oxymorons" such as "business ethics". Accessed 4 Mar. The word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron; in Greek, oxy- means "sharp" or "wise," while moros means "foolish." Is an oxymoron always 2 words? Or plastic silverware. A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still truefor example, "less is more." Is oxymoronic a word? He gave me a. Oxymoron is a word that describes an expression of two contradictory thoughts, words, or phrases. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Value Added Publishing. "delighted sorrow", "loyal treachery", "scalding coolness" (Hemingway).[18]. June 3, 2022 . ), so this article explains everything you need to know. Despite the similarities, however, oxymorons and paradoxes are two different types of literary devices, each with their own special usage. Are you Nobody too? (, Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. (, Vidia was complicated, two fairies in one, a loyal traitor. (Gail Carson Levine). "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." (One, in particular, is in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, wherein combining things that contrast is an ongoing theme.) All rights reserved. Yes. 11 October 1975. And then an interesting thing happens with superette. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? "darkness visible" (Milton), Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. [3], The term oxymoron is first recorded as Latinized Greek oxymrum, in Maurus Servius Honoratus (c. AD 400);[4] it is derived from the Greek word okss "sharp, keen, pointed"[5] and mros "dull, stupid, foolish";[6] as it were, "sharp-dull", "keenly stupid", or "pointedly foolish". My play was a complete success. RELATED: Palindrome Examples: Words and Phrases That Are the Same Backwards and Forwards, RELATED: The Most Confusing Rules in the Grammar World, RELATED:The Best-Ever Hyperbole Examples, RELATED: Pangram Examples Every Word Lover Will Appreciate. Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. Merriam-Webster defines an oxymoron as a rhetorical device in which a combination of contradictory or incongruous words is used in conjunction. Here are some well-known and recognizable examples of this figure of speech: People are often confused by the difference between oxymoron and paradox. (Old news, anyone?) Ask questions; get answers. (One, in particular, is in. It is often composed of an adjective and a noun that are not usually seen together, juxtaposed in a startling way. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Send us feedback. The word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron itself and derives from the . Well provide oxymoron examples and provide guidance on how theyre used, but first, lets look at a more thorough oxymoron definition. Jack London, The Call of the Wild, All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this., The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, This contradiction is also known as a paradox. Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. Rowdy, a new documentary on Amazon Freevee, tells the story of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch's life and career, largely focused on his chase for the 2015 Cup Series Championship. Jane Austen, Emma, 1815. "Shrimp" in the sense of food is an animal. The Greek compound word oksmron, which would correspond to the Latin formation, does not seem to appear in any known Ancient Greek works prior to the formation of the Latin term.[8]. In 1778, the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier (1743-94) proposed for the recently discovered element the name . Combining the idea of before and after leads to a word that describes something that makes so little sense that it leaves you shaking your head. Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. The phrasedaily night certainly features contrary wording. (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). Check out the funniest accidental, and intentional, malapropism examples as well. Old news is an everyday example of an oxymoron, as news is meant to be current. However, others can be intentional: For instance, in the phrase deafening silence, the seeming contradiction only serves to emphasize the intensity of the silence. Oxymoron of the Day Favorite Oxymoron Terms Calm Storm (Science) Casual Chic (Fashion) Cat fish (Science) Chili (Food) 2023. The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. Post author By ; Post date regina's restaurant menu; california home care aide registry . An oxymoron is a figure of speech that places contradictory terms next to each other in a word or phrase. A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still truefor example, "less is more.". As a literary device, it is used to make certain word combinations more thought-provoking to stand out. Oxymoron. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. In literary contexts, the author does not usually signal the use of an oxymoron, but in rhetorical usage, it has become common practice to advertise the use of an oxymoron explicitly to clarify the argument, as in: In this example, "Epicurean pessimist" would be recognized as an oxymoron in any case, as the core tenet of Epicureanism is equanimity (which would preclude any sort of pessimist outlook). But in some instances, a single word is all it takes. Paul Fussell. The word "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron. Thus, as the oxymoron suggests, this scene ishappy since Juliet and Romeo are in love, yet it's also sad because they must say goodbyeand cannot stay together through the night. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite ideas to create a certain rhetorical or poetic effect and reveal a deeper truth. the word nascar is an oxymoron. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this. We use oxymorons because they make effective titles in literature or film, and add dramatic effect, for example, Dead Man Walking, Mr. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. They add flavour to speech and can also be cynical, sarcastic, or witty and used for comic effect or relief. Want to learn more about figures of speech, besides oxymorons and paradoxes? So elements that mean great and small combine to form a noun for a place to pick up your provisions. The main difference between an oxymoron and a paradox is that oxymorons use contradictory words whereas paradoxes use contradictory ideas. Sophomore is the term for a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school. What are examples of oxymoron? It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. The word oxymoron is an ancient Greek word, which translates most closely to something like sharply dull or cleverly stupid. In other words, the oxymoron definition is itself an oxymoron. The word "oxymoron" is derived from Greek a combination of oxy- meaning keen or sharp and -mrs meaning dull or foolish. They also occasionally work well with figurative language to compound the power behind certain words. The word 'big' is added to emphasise the fact that someone is acting more childishly than you would expect. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. Even though the two words are often antonyms (words with opposite meanings), they don't negate each other. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. Often, you come across words that are paired together, but maybe completely contradictory in meaning. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. One oxymoron example is "deafening silence," which describes a silence that is so overpowering it almost feels deafening, or extremely loudjust as an actual sound would. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. This is an oxymoron because all babies are small. These lines come from the hit 2013 song "All of Me" recorded by John Legend. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour team owner David Hill said Sunday morning that he was sorry for placing a post on Facebook late Saturday night that included a racial slur and veiled threat directed at reigning Whelen Modified Tour champion Ryan Preece. They're not always small, and the word doesn't mean small in this sense. Shellfish. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. This book, in which Wallace presents employees of the IRS and their spectacularly damaged lives, often dwells on the connection between tedium and pain. Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. In this scene, Juliet utters the phrase "sweet sorrow" to describe the feeling she has when having to say goodbye to Romeo. These 50+ oxymoron examples are listed alphabetically and arranged by category (i.e., the type of oxymoron word combination). "expressive silence" (Thomson, echoing Cicero's Latin: cum tacent clamant, lit. We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into. How to use each word. The main topic of this poem is the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, an event during whichnumerous Irish nationalists rebelled against the British government in Ireland. Despite the "terrible" things that happened and the many lives lost, Yeats uses the term "beauty" to bring attention to the positive ideals of independence that gained ground as a result of this event:thisdesire for self-government is what spurred the Irish War of Independence just a few years later. In other words, oxymorons are contradictive words or phrases used intentionally to create an effect. Mom, and True Lies.. Website, Richard Nordquist defines oxymorons as a literary device used by writers and poets for centuries "to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.". Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! The Ancient Greeks came up with this term for a rhetorical device employing contradiction by combining the word for sharp, keen (oxys) with the aforementioned mros, meaning foolish.. Some oxymorons are accidental and/or so common in our speech that we dont realize that theyre totally contradictory. However, liar has negative connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. up next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. [22], Similarly, the term "civil war" is sometimes jokingly referred to as an "oxymoron" (punning on the lexical meanings of the word "civil"). Now that weve gone over what an oxymoron is, lets take a closer look at four famous oxymoron examples in sentences to better understand how this literary device actually works. O loving hate! These word pairings are not inherently opposite, but their individual concepts can seem contradictory when combined. Two involve the palindrome, two involve the oxymoron, and one involves onomatopoeia. The first word is usually used to describe the second word in a way that contrasts with it. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. the word nascar is an oxymoron the word nascar is an oxymoron. An oxymoron (plurals: oxymorons and oxymora) is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? [23], Other examples include "honest politician", "act naturally", "affordable caviar" (1993),[24] "happily married" and "Microsoft Works" (2000).[25]. One moose, two moose. The most commonly-used example of an oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp,' as a shrimp is small by definition and therefore cannot be jumbo. An example of such a "comical oxymoron" is "educational television": the humour derives entirely from the claim that it is an oxymoron by the implication that "television" is so trivial as to be inherently incompatible with "education". When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. In some languages, it is not necessary to place a conjunction like and between the two antonyms; such compounds (not necessarily of antonyms) are known as dvandvas (a term taken from Sanskrit grammar). The distinction between the two is clear (now). While an oxymoron is the combination of two contradictory/opposite words in a single sentence, a paradox is an entire phrase/sentence that appears contradictory but, upon further investigation, could be true or plausible. William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two terms seem contradictory. $8.95. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. All rights reserved. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." The juicy bone is a contrast in its own phrasing, as well as a contrasting image with the coffin and the implied corpses bones inside. no longer a productive compound in English, but loaned as a compound from a different language), as with pre-posterous (lit. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. This excerpt from Irish poet William Butler Yeats famous poem "Easter 1916" has the prominent oxymoron "terrible beauty," which is repeated again at the end of the poem. In cuisine, it describes things like dark chocolate, which is thought of as sweet but in reality contains little sugar, so has a sharper taste than regular chocolate. [9] oxymoron (n.) in rhetoric, "a figure conjoining words or terms apparently contradictory so as to give point to the statement or expression," 1650s, from Greek oxymron, noun use of neuter of oxymros (adj.) 'when they are silent, they cry out'), The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above. They also occasionally work well with. You might say that they juxtapose each other, which means, when placed close together, they create an. n, -mor- / grammar a phrase or statement that seems to say two opposite things, as in " jumbo shrimp " and " agree to disagree " (Definition of oxymoron from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary Cambridge University Press) Examples of oxymoron oxymoron Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. With the first oxymoron,"perfect imperfections," the speaker is making it clear that his lovers flaws are ultimately what make her the perfect partner for him. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. Learn more. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. For example, "virtual reality" consists of contradictory terms that form a new meaning. Grammarly helps you communicate confidently An oxymoron is a phrase made of two or more words that actually have opposite meanings. Therefore, the reader is left in some suspense to wonder what events or feelings would result in such a response received by the character.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_13',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_14',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-129{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. If you are looking for something seriously funny that will serve as a simply brilliant example of an oxymoron, the following article provides you with a compiled oxymoron list. They are "word searches" and matching puzzles. An oxymoron is a combination of words, typically just two words, with contradictory meanings. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. This stanza, from Lord Tennysons retelling of the tale of King Arthur, usesseveral oxymorons for poetic effect and as a way to emphasize the conundrum that Lancelot, Arthurs most loyal knight and friend, finds himself in. Write with Grammarly. Think jumbo shrimp. Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. where do you file a complaint against a hospital; failure to pay full time and attention va code; bones angela and hodgins in jail; mirabella svadobny salon dubnica nad vahom O loving hate!"). It is also comedic in terms of behavior, both in terms of a man acting like a child or a child behaving like a man.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_15',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_16',131,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-131{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Copyright Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. For example, oxymoron phrases such as marital bliss, military intelligence,andbusiness ethics,depending on how they are used as figures of speech, can be effective literary devices to indicate irony. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts two words next to each other with very different meanings that end up making sense in a strange way. Nothing else. This next oxymoron example is about Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot's tragic love affair. In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

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