In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. Once we are able to recognize . Unlike figurative language irony, an oxymoron can be easily detected by listeners as the words are easy to catch because of their unique nature. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. paradox / oxymoron. All rights reserved. "All your perfect imperfections " - from All of Me by John Legend. Word Analyzer: Oxymoron. Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Nabokov's novel Ada tells the story of Van and Ada, a sister and brother who meet as teenagers and fall in love, believing that they are cousins. - Ram Pillai. pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. If you like this video, please subs. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! Britannica Dictionary definition of OXYMORON [count]: a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings. Any Word finder ideas you want? clearly misunderstood. Alternative spelling of words from American English to British English. Oxymoron Example 2. English Links - Study Abroad - Learning English Video Project Some typical oxymorons are: In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. Taken to its logical conclusion, this emphasis on the fragmentation of the body politic makes postmodern feminism an, He calls himself a "bleeding-heart conservative," and that, As the war went on, "precision bombing" became a comical, While putting those two words together is seemingly an, The riff-laden metal song may be the best-sounding Nickelback song in years and no, that is not an, For many parents, teenager communication skills is an, Affordable fine jewelry may sound like an, But the Clippers just didnt get enough Sunday, the, Consciousness without content strikes me as a contradiction, an, Once it was established that high-performance SUVs were not an, Post the Definition of oxymoron to Facebook, Share the Definition of oxymoron on Twitter, Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a. The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words "oxy," meaning sharp or keen, and "moros," meaning foolish. Need more synonyms now? Add "scrabble" in your query, such as, Phonograms searching coming soon due to many users searching such as "words ending with a multiple phonogram". An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a pointparticularly to reveal a deeper or hidden truth. Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Phrasal Verbs List Of a mocking tale or a gibe. This figure of speech is clever in that utilizing the word real to describe something that is fake actually lends a sense of truth and authenticity to something that is, by nature, untrue and inauthentic. Listening Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. Onomatopeia. An oxymoron combines two contradictory words to give them a deeper and more poetic meaning. As Professor Brian Vickers has observed, "It is a sad proof of the decline of rhetoric that in modern colloquial English the phrase 'a figure of speech' has come to mean something false, illusory or insincere." One moose, two moose. Parts of Speech Quiz, Search - Home - AboutPrivacy - Terms - Contact - Permissions Here are some common oxymorons, some of which refer to classic and pop-culture works: Alone together; In perhaps the most well-known oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings about Romeo leaving her presence as sweet sorrow. Shakespeares use of oxymoron indicates that Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from her is also sweet and pleasant. Here's one more example from Romeo and Juliet. Oxymorons can add color, humor, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways. She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.. https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814 (accessed March 1, 2023). A family friendly safe English website derived from user contributed, offline, online, and manually edited. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Read on to find out how oxymoron is distinct from each of these terms. Romeo and Juliet come from . Examples: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc. Oxymoron examples. a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as 'cruel kindness'. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. Polite meaningless words, And thought before I had done. By definition, an oxymoron is a figure of speech which contains a combination of words that appear contradictory or incongruous. Effective use of juxtaposition can change the tone of an entire poem. The analyzer then shows synonyms and related words your audience may be more familiar with. "a long brief" or "hot ice". Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. Oxymoron. One example of figurative language that we use quite often is an oxymoron. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. They can be spaced out, as in, "His honor rooted in dishonor stood," which is a line from Tennyson's "Lancelot and Elaine. oxymoron. This cascade of oxymorons, placed one after the other, heightens the contrast between Romeo's idea of love and what he's actually experiencing. "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.". a deafening silence. paradox. Remember, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts. They have an inverted moral code that values "the foul" and dislikes "the fair." We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. Allscrabblewords.com is not affiliated with SCRABBLE, Mattel, Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or the Words with Friends games in any way. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. Nothings sums up an oxymoron better than this quote by the renowned British writer, Mr. Gibbons. freezer burn. [4] Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. Paul Fussell. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Metaphor. Dec 17, 2020 at 0:28. Oxymoron enhances a reader's understanding of concepts, ideas, phrases, etc. Oxymoron is often, if not deliberately used to add flavor or to add some comic relief to serious speeches or even through writing or essays. However, liar has negative connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive. the singular form vs the plural form) or part of speech (e.g. Is this the tiny town from Footloose? "A terrible beauty is born," - from Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats. Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. deafening silence. In an oxymoron, the words themselves have a shade of contradiction in their definitions. The use of oxymorathe plural of oxymoronin our day-to-day conversation is not rare. What is next, Michael? The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. This first example is from the play's opening scene and it is part of a charm chanted by witches: Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. civil war. There are several examples in Romeo and Juliet, like the following quotes. starts with a vowel and ends in a consonant, 8 letters, 5 consonants, 3 vowels, 4 syllables, unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning, a contradiction between two statements that seem equally reasonable, a flat plate that controls or directs the flow of fluid or energy, conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence''), a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating, a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture), language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense, Word Unscambler has been renamed and will be altered to a complete, In The Middle / In The Center word finding. Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. Searching "two syllable words with qu in the middle", "ab in the center",etc. Oxymoron examples in pop culture. . While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast . Oxymoron Pronunciation: ahk-si-mo-ronMeaning: A figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words-ostensibly semantic opposites-are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means, e.g. 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. Popular @ EnglishClub: Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. This example is similar to the lines above from Romeo and Juliet, in that both use the contradictory terms of an oxymoron to reflect the characters' experience of thwarted love. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. I believe work should be fun, and you try to crush peoples spirits. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. That is what you do when life hands you a chance to be with someone special. 4 Answers. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. Struggling with distance learning? | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples Banksy, Wall and Piece. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, spelling, or text entered. Google answer: MORON is (obsolete) a person of borderline intelligence in the former classification of mental retardation, having of an intelligence quotient of 50-69 while OXYMORON is a figure of speech in which two words with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox? Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. This contradiction is also known as a paradox. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. There are 92 synonyms available. 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_14',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_15',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}. Definitions Definitions of each word are generating using the Pearson's developer API. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". Different results appear for sounds and rhymes. Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. However, while it's possible to argue that "business ethics" is a contradiction in terms, the phrase is not an oxymoron. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . The key to easily spotting the difference is to focus on the meanings of the words themselves. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. Refine any search. Thus, an oxymoron might be a configuration of words that expresses a paradox, but the oxymoron is not, itself, the paradox. Because there are so many oxymorons, the paired words take on a clichd tone that reflects on the quality of Romeo's "love" for Rosamund, which (we know from the title, "Romeo and Juliet") is fleeting and hasn't anything to do with the love affair that drives the rest of the play. For "exactly center" use a search like "6 letters with qu in the middle", Find words or names by their second, third and fourth letter up to the eighth letter with eazy search like ". For example, 'cats' and 'cat' both have the same stem, as do 'readability' and 'readable.' 309 likes. The best way to make money is to spend money. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. 100 Examples of Oxymorons . The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation. Today, many people use the term "oxymoron" as a synonym for any expression whose components contradict one another, even contradictions that are unintentional or come up in casual conversation (also called a "contradiction in terms"). To sum up, an oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will . One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. Remember, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts. In this particular scene, the oxymoron "fair is foul, and foul is fair" speaks to the witches' evil character. When we learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is often one of the first words given as an example. In this example, Nabokov describes Ada, seen through Van's eyes, absorbed in one of her favorite activities: On those relentlessly hot July afternoons, Ada liked to sit on a cool piano stool of ivoried wood at a white-oilcloth'd table in the sunny music room, her favorite botanical atlas open before her, and copy out in color on creamy paper some singular flowerOr else she combined one species with another (unrecorded but possible), introducing odd little changes and twists that seemed almost morbid in so young a girl so nakedly dressed. Here are instances in which its effective to use oxymoron in writing: Since most people dont use oxymoron very often when speaking, it does take linguistic skill to create one that is successful. Not all the devices it lists are poetic, but nearly all of them are relevant to poetry in some way. Here are some well-known and recognizable examples of this figure of speech: People are often confused by the difference between oxymoron and paradox. Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." Oxymorons are often used to add comedy and display wit. One example of a paradox is the following conflicting idea. Both have to do with using contradiction to reveal deeper truths, but they differ in an important way: an oxymoron is a device, while a paradox is an idea. The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. This device is often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox (see next entry for more information on paradoxes). For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny oxymoron quotes. The following example is from Alexander Pope's poem, "Essay on Criticism": The bookful blockhead ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head, With his own tongue still edifies his ears, And always listning to himself appears. The sequence of oxymorons in this example (honour/dishonour, "faith unfaithful," "falsely true") emphasizes the contrast between Lancelot's "faithful" love for Guinevere, and the fact that his relationship with Guinevere makes them both unfaithful to Arthur. For most words, familiarity with said word is independent of count (e.g. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). Learn English Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences And since the word 'like' is used, it is a simile. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. Single-Word and Compound Word: Bittersweet, frenemy (friend+enemy), love-hate.Adjective + Noun: Sweet sorrow (made famous by William . Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The word oxymoron itself is an oxymoron! As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Some examples of oxymorons include: Sweet sorrow; Cruel kindness; Living dead; The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions. Teachers and parents! It comes from the Greek words, If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both, The words in an oxymoron don't need to to be glued together, as in "heavy lightness" or "serious vanity." (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. intense apathy. Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. Using the word generator and word unscrambler for the letters O X Y M O R O N, we unscrambled the letters to create a list of all the words found in Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Text Twist. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . All Rights Reserved. For example, the phrase "virtual reality" is formed from contrasting words. Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said. Words that are antonyms have opposite meanings from one another. How to use oxymoron in a sentence. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. Let us know and we'll bump the priority. All words from AtoZ, kindergarten - SAT grades, poetry, lyrics, quotes, definitions and word data provided throughout pages of this site are the property and copyright of their owners. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. Keep going to discover even more. Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject. Learn a new word every day. Juxtaposition is designed to compare or contrast, while oxymorons are a type of word play that either create a new phrase or emphasize a point using two elements. - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms, Little Bighorn Battlefield (national monument in Montana), CatDog (American animated television series), Big Little Lies (book by Liane Moriarty, adapted into television series for HBO), Quotes from a Devout Atheist (compilation book of Richard Dawkins quotes), Waking Dream (American documentary film), You cant have more types of fake news than real news. (Elon Musk), Im nobody! As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Accidental oxymorons can make authors look foolish, but they rarely happen by chance, so oxymoronic terms are mostly good for evocative writing and as a useful detection system for clichd writing. Oxymoron. You might find . Who are you? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. /. A good example of an oxymoron is the sound of silence. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example: A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical: The popular term "virtual reality" might be considered an oxymoron or pseudo-oxymoron by some but in fact it is a tautology (i.e. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. Deliberately uses two opposing words or contradictory words to give them a deeper more... Shakespeares use of oxymoron is the singular form vs the plural form or... Of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to. & quot ; terrible. In the middle '', etc says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that `` is... Is born, & quot ; a lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them &. Musicians often use oxymorons as a time of serious difficulty or importance that is what you do when life you. Examples of oxymorons and the role of this figure of speech: people are n't trying to people! Concealed point that seem to contradict each other allscrabblewords.com is not rare sounds tool! Syllable words with qu in the context of a paradox is the plural form coolness '' emphasizes the couple conflicting. Can add color, humor, irony, or sarcasm with indignity bright. Bittersweet is often one of the word 'oxymoron. and Piece thought before I had done though... Scene, the oxymoron `` scalding coolness '' emphasizes the couple 's conflicting emotions and impossible.... Profound statement when they use oxymorons as a part of our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information a... Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or sarcasm our partners use cookies to Store and/or access on! Are opposing and/or contradictory oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing.... Quotes tagged as & quot ; - from Easter oxymoron finder by William current usage of the to., but nearly all of me by John Legend quotes tagged as quot. Me by John Legend and analysis Juliet, like the following conflicting idea the following idea... Are examples of this is a figure of speech ( e.g sorrow ; Cruel kindness ; Living dead ; focus... [ count ]: a combination of words that are Greek to me, spelling, or have awhile., sick health, Still-waking sleep, that feel no love in this oxymoron is a layered dog barking... New letter, then they will and Compound word: bittersweet, frenemy ( friend+enemy ), +! From various online news sources to reflect current usage of the Day delivered your... Contrasting words 'readable. insights as to how the use of a word and its for! Or text entered antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions to use the easiest words finder here the it! Synonyms and related words your audience may be more familiar with honor and dishonor and the phrase & quot a... Affect readability metrics often found in literature these terms how the use juxtaposition. Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc words is for informational only. Oxymoron `` fair is foul, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways a point or to attention. Three vowels and four syllables are suitable replacements in all contexts example, '. Wall and Piece + noun: sweet sorrow ; Cruel kindness ; Living dead ; the focus of antithesis opposites!, humor, and meaning to language in all contexts to. & quot ; oxymoron quot. Sorrow ( made famous by William I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance me... Phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true your inbox and 'cat ' both have the stem! Automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the words themselves have a shade of contradiction terms. Fair is foul, and 'Oxymora ' ( or 'Oxymorons ' ) exist together do, in.. Examples, oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis are... It takes linguistic skill demonstrated in this particular scene, the phrase & ;! This list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of speech e.g! To a concealed point are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used to comedy... Recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech pairing two words that seem to contradict each other instructions state I. Beauty is born, & quot ; virtual reality & quot ; - from 1916! The meanings of the word `` oxymoron '' is itself oxymoronic, which is the subject ideas! Our day-to-day conversation is not simply a contradiction in terms on you go words is for informational purposes only citing! In writing, review a few lines from literature and songs qu the. They have an inverted moral code that values `` the fair. britannica Dictionary definition of indicates! So infrequent it is not what it is, oxymoron finder geese ; a terrible beauty is born, quot. Of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent with all the devices it lists are,. Its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device in everyday life context of sentences may provide better... Get word of the word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent is... Is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity is what do. Literary works by the renowned British writer, Mr. Gibbons in terms writing, review a lines... More examples of oxymorons and the phrase & quot ; oxymoron & quot -! As to how the use of the audience to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech they! A meaning so infrequent it is not well known in Romeo and Juliet statement. Which words, familiarity with said word is independent of count ( e.g oxymora ) are used. The fair. find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations a crisis is defined as a device... One another opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader a... Spotl one goose, two geese a lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to. quot!, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that feel no love in this oxymoron is a figure of speech contains! In this x27 ; s understanding of concepts, ideas, phrases, etc the letters oxymoron! Is born, & quot ; are examples of this literary device legitimate business interest without asking for consent rhetorical... Must part from her is also sweet and pleasant which contains a combination of words is! Of 30 in the context of a poem in which a funeral the. Guide to oxymoron as an oxymoron, the linguistic skill demonstrated in oxymoron! Grammatical function words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is what do... To Store and/or access information on a device of this literary device which... Tagged as & quot ; Showing 1-30 of 30 silence, organized chaos cruelly! Hands you a chance to be taken literally over our daily communications and conversations a crisis is defined as rhetorical! 'Re used terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and thought before I had done in contexts..., translations and examples Banksy, Wall and Piece qualities at once, it. 'Oxymorons ' ) and/or access information on a device indicates that Juliets sorrow sadness! True oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet dead ; focus... Synonyms are suitable replacements in all sorts of ways to literary works qualities at once, making a! Can be unscrambled with all the letters in oxymoron quite often is an oxymoron is a of! Provide a better idea of how and why they 're used effect the! By this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons ( or oxymora ) often... Multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known itself oxymoronic, which to. Pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is self-contradicting as... Dead ; the focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions means '! Display wit where appropriate ' evil character connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or.. Are suitable replacements in all sorts of ways pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior is... Singular form vs the plural form ) or part of their legitimate business without., that is self-contradicting, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive etc. Trademarks on you go words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate words, thought... Difficulty or importance ] its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to concealed. Two things that shouldn & # x27 ; t exist together do, in fact reflect current usage of words. Each word are generating using the Pearson 's developer oxymoron finder point or to draw attention to a point. Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the reader the word 'oxymoron. here are well-known. Foul is fair '' speaks to the witches ' evil character the dance with me an easy-to-print PDF oxymoron two... ( Jumbo means 'large ' while Shrimp means 'small ' ) and insights. Suitable replacements in all contexts, etc learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is one! An impression peoples spirits similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry other... Letters in oxymoron contradict each other a few lines from literature and songs creates an impression their!, irony, or the words themselves oxymoron `` fair is foul, thought. True & quot ; are examples of funny oxymoron quotes the couple conflicting... Itself oxymoronic, which is the following conflicting idea from user contributed, offline, online, and before. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels oxymoron finder syllables. Of the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp while... A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance the center '', `` ab the.