Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. If you could not find the words you were looking for, please submit feedback or leave a comment below. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". There's a drama and simplicity to the "fair is foul" oxymoron, which becomes a refrain as the play goes on and characters begin to act according to the witches' moral code. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. #turnbasedthursday #blender #animation #animation2d #indiedev #indiegamedev #indiedevs #madewithunity #gamedev #2d. Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. ", Explanations and citation info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic How to use oxymoron in a sentence. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. Popular @ EnglishClub: Examples: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel. Jul 17, 2017 at 13:23. LitCharts Teacher Editions. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Well . An oxymoron combines two contradictory words to give them a deeper and more poetic meaning. a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as 'cruel kindness'. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. English Links - Study Abroad - Learning English Video Project PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The contradiction contained in "nakedly dressed" echoes the impossibility of the hybrids Ada draws, and more importantly, it expresses both Van's feeling that he can see into her soul despite the clothes covering her body, his yearning for her such that her clothes only suggest to him her body beneath them, and at the same time (because it's an oxymoron and the words contradict) the impossibility of the siblings' relationship. Wow, these dolls are great. Who are you? He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. 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. Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject. Manage Settings 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. "pointedly foolish," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (from PIE root *ak-"be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce") + mros "stupid" (see moron).The word itself is an illustration of the thing. Check out the oxymoron definition. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. My play was a complete success. Reading these words together will often cause a reader to pause and think about what the writer is trying to convey. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. and The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. (2021, February 16). 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. Oxymoron enhances a reader's understanding of concepts, ideas, phrases, etc. In common usage, a figure of speech is a word or phrase that means something more or something other than it seems to saythe opposite of a literal expression. Are you going to make dancing illegal? Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Perfect if you enjoy the oxymoron of a synonym being an antonym. To please a companion. I have passed with a nod of the head. In both examples, the oxymoron joins opposite ideas to make a point (such as that an awkward silence can have a presence comparable to a loud sound). For example, as we covered above, Shakespeare used oxymorons to describe strong, opposing emotions that often occur together, and also to show how the friction between those two feelingslove and hate, or love and pain, for examplecan coexist and shape characters' experiences. Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. 100 Examples of Oxymorons . Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. Ans: The figures of speech are as follows. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Feb 2. Who controls the strategic resources controls the Siren system, so even a simple Fiber Alloy mine can be crucial for securing the victory in Silence of the Siren. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. 4 Answers. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . "i find nothing more depressing than optimism.". Information provided is without warranty or claim of accuracy. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. Oxymorons are oppositional words joined to create a unique word or phrase. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Show with prefix and suffix options, only if it has a root word. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. 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. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. Nordquist, Richard. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms . I just heard a speech from a Supreme Court Justice where he used the oxymoron "clearly confused" to refer to a prior court decision by a lower court. Oxymoron. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. 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. You might find . Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! This statement made by Holden reveals the level of complexity and impact an oxymoron can have as a literary device when it comes to interpretation. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. If Holdens claim is that he is wonderful at being an untruthful person, then he casts doubt as to the truth of his own statement to the reader about being a terrific liar as well. Be sure to consider context, and connotation in addition to readability when choosing an alternatitive word. However, an oxymoron is more specific than a contradiction in terms: it must be crafted intentionally in order to suggest that two contradictory ideas go together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words "oxy," meaning sharp or keen, and "moros," meaning foolish. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Oxymoron is a Words with Friends word. adjective form vs the noun form). Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. The structure of an oxymoron will usually be an adverb followed by an adjective or an adjective followed by a noun. For example, if a character is described as a man child, this oxymoron calls up a humorous image of a child that looks like a man or vice-versa. ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. A paradox is a rhetorical device or a self-contradictory statement that can actually be true. Some of the greatest truths lie in contradiction, and oxymoron is one of the best figures of speech for expressing contradiction. Scrabble point value for oxymoron: 20 points. 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. Vocabulary Oh my God, you have Cabbage Patch! Although they have the same purpose in mind, they are used differently in terms of sentence structure and presentation. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Oxymoron can enhance drama in writing. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' An oxymoron is a figure of speech made up of words with very different meanings. Oxymoron. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron. Grammar Quizzes An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' Also, mastering the oxymoron is an elegant way to weave clever wordplay into your creative writing.. An oxymoron can be a word or phrase in one of these formats: . 3. 12. Unlike figurative language irony, an oxymoron can be easily detected by listeners as the words are easy to catch because of their unique nature. Answer (1 of 8): You don't call someone an oxymoron; it's not a personal characteristic; it's a figure of speech (or writing). 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. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. An oxymoron is a rhetorical device in which seemingly contradictory or incongruous terms appear in conjunction with each other. The answer is the oxymoron. The word combines two of the five taste sensations, the others being . (n.). Yes! As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis? One example of a paradox is the following conflicting idea. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. In this poem about the love between Lancelot and Guinevere, Tennyson uses oxymoron in this line: "His honor rooted in dishonor stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.". a stylistic device combining contradictory words to form a new semantic entity, for example, "sorrowful joy" (S. A. Esenin). paradox. Continue with Recommended Cookies. oxymoron. Send a word find feature request to let me know. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. [4] Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. 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. Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. A paradox is a logical puzzle that seems to contradict itself. 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. Oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. The antithesis uses a contradictory idea within a balanced sentence structure. "a long brief" or "hot ice". Some typical oxymorons are: In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. However, liar has negative connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive. Yes. civil war. Definitions Definitions of each word are generating using the Pearson's developer API. What is an oxymoron? You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. For example, "good" and "bad" are antonyms. We then calculate word frequency using the data from Project Gutenberg which is a large collection of freely available english documents and summing the counts for all variations of the word corresponding to the same stem. , it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, content, ad and content measurement, insights! 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And/Or contradictory contradictory ideas, simply pondered upon the head they want to be taken literally, simply pondered.. '' and `` bad '' are antonyms as shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons! Insights and product development in someone who is untruthful or deceptive can actually be true different thing so to...