An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeare's line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!"). A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still true—for example, "less is more."

What is oxymoron give 5 examples?

Oxymorons like “seriously funny,” “original copy,” “plastic glasses,” and “clearly confused” juxtapose opposing words next to one another, but their ability to make sense despite their opposing forces adds wit to writing. Reveal a deeper meaning. The dichotomy of an oxymoron often expresses a complex idea.

What is a good example of an oxymoron?

One oxymoron example is "deafening silence," which describes a silence that is so overpowering it almost feels deafening, or extremely loud—just as an actual sound would. Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and in a breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting.

What is oxymoron in simple words?

An oxymoron is a term for a figure of speech. It is made up of two or more words that seem to be opposite to each other, or actually are opposite. For example, the words "Wise fool", "Warm freezer", "Legal murder" all have two words. In each one, the one word looks like the opposite of the other word.

What is oxymoron give two examples?

The word is derived from two Greek words, namely “oxus” (sharp) and “moros” (dull). Some common oxymoron examples include “pretty ugly,” “only choice,” and “same difference.”

What is an oxymoron? Definition and 20 funny examples!

29 related questions found

What is the example of Litotes?

Litotes is a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which a sentiment is expressed ironically by negating its contrary. For example, saying "It's not the best weather today" during a hurricane would be an example of litotes, implying through ironic understatement that the weather is, in fact, horrible.

How do you use oxymoron in a sentence?

Oxymoron sentence example

A pregnant man seems to be an oxymoron , doesn't it? They were labeled ' emotionally disturbed adolescents ' which is perhaps an oxymoron , they seemed normal to me. Bankruptcy marketing may sounds like an oxymoron . The term "fuel efficient SUV" sounds like an oxymoron .

What are two words that contradict each other?

The term you're looking for is oxymoron, which comes from a Greek word whose literal translation is 'pointedly foolish'. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two apparently contradictory terms appear together. Examples include a deafening silence, harmonious discord, an open secret, and the living dead.

What is an oxymoron person?

In my opinion, referring to a person being an oxymoron, "I'm an oxymoron," means to be stupid and smart at the same time. A clever idiot or pretending to be smart. Either in general or on a specific topic.

Does an oxymoron have to be two words?

Although both a paradox and an oxymoron involve contradictions, they have an important difference. A paradox is a rhetorical device or a self-contradictory statement that can actually be true. While an oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposing words.

Is Big Baby an oxymoron?

1. Big baby. This is an oxymoron because all babies are small. ... All babies can be childish but, for some reason, adding the word 'big' communicates that the person you are talking about is even more childish than a regular-sized baby!

What is an oxymoron in Romeo and Juliet?

There are multiple oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. In Romeo's speech in the very first scene, he refers to “brawling love,” which is an oxymoron as fighting and loving are opposite actions. Other oxymorons in this speech include “heavy lightness” and “loving hate.”

Is Good grief an oxymoron?

Good grief. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two words with contradictory meanings are placed side-by-side. ... Take "good grief." Grief isn't traditionally thought of as good, so the words are a paradox.

Is never say never an oxymoron?

Never say never. Press enter to exit. Do these sayings not contradict themselves? ... They are oxymorons, expressions that combine contradictory or incongruous ideas.

What do oxymorons do?

An oxymoron is when an author puts two words together that are opposing or contradictory. By using an oxymoron, the author adds an element of complexity and encourages the reader to think deeply about a particular idea.

Is oxymoron an oxymoron?

Oxymoron is sometimes used to describe a word combination that strikes the listener as humorously contradictory, even if the speaker didn't intend it that way. The word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron; in Greek, oxy- means "sharp" or "wise," while moros means "foolish."

What is opposite oxymoron?

Notes: A tautology is the opposite of an oxymoron, two words that contradict each other, such as the living dead. The words of a tautology mean the same thing: a dead corpse is a tautology because corpse itself means "dead".

How can you identify an oxymoron?

You can recognize an oxymoron by looking for phrases where two words are used together that logically should not. A few more common examples are: virtual reality, random order, noticeably absent, sweet agony, open secret and awfully good.

What is irony paradox and oxymoron?

The irony is when an action or speech is the complete opposite of what it is expected to do or mean. The job of irony is to give an emphatic or humorous effect. A paradox is a statement that contradicts its actual meaning and contains a little bit of truth. ... A paradox is closely related to the oxymoron.

Are oxymoron and paradox the same?

An oxymoron is the conjunction of two words with meanings that contradict each other. While a paradox is the opposition of ideas or themes, an oxymoron is a contradiction merely between words.

Why is jumbo shrimp an oxymoron?

It's also a slangy way of calling someone small or short. So "jumbo shrimp" is an oxymoron. The term "oxymoron" comes from Greek, where "oxy" means "sharp or acute," and "moros" means "dumb or foolish." So oxymoron is itself a bit of, well, an oxymoron. ... In any case, we've been using oxymorons for hundreds of years.

Is sweet and sour an oxymoron?

Is sweet and sour an oxymoron? Instead of cancelling each other out, together these words produce a more complex, subtle flavor, like putting chiles into mango preserves, or sweet and sour sauce. Oxymoron is less of a pure descriptor, and more of a rhetorical device.

Are oxymorons grammatically incorrect?

An oxymoron is a phrase that, in grammatical terms, renders itself impossible. ... In this way, it's impossible (in grammatical terms) for anything to be your 'only choice', since the two words are mutually exclusive – it's oxymoronic. While grammatically objectionable, oxymorons are both useful and common.

What is an example of a malapropism?

Here are some examples of malapropisms: Mrs. Malaprop said, "Illiterate him quite from your memory" (obliterate) and "She's as headstrong as an allegory" (alligator) Officer Dogberry said, "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons" (apprehended two suspicious persons)