. Rather, an oxymoron is a cool literary device you can use in your creative writing. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. Delivered to your inbox! When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. Oxymoron Quotes. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. "A figure of speech in which a pair of opposed or markedly contradictory terms are placed in conjunction for emphasis", "closely related to hysteron proteron, it shouldn't be, "Hosted for 33 years by the conservative intellectual William F. Buckley Jr., the show [. . They also occasionally work well with figurative language to compound the power behind certain words. "Saturday Night Live transcripts." The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. That makes oxymorons a serious option in, is fairly neutralit can be calm or tense, depending on the context. 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.) Crustacean. Oxymorons are common in everyday speech. Adding "jumbo" doesn't make the . Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King, Parting is such sweet sorrow. An oxymoron is usually just two words (sometimes one, as in bittersweet), but a paradox is an entire statement, usually a standalone sentence or even a full, What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?, A Guide to Using Plain Language in Writing. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. So how did we arrive at spendthrift for a word for someone who spends money wastefully? He was very warmly thanked both by mother and daughter; to escape a little from the latter, he went to the pianoforte, and begged Miss Fairfax, who was still sitting at it, to play something more. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that is made up of two or more words that seem to be the opposite of each other or truly are opposite of each other. An oxymoron refers to a word, phrase, or use of language that seems to directly contradict itself, and it is. An oxymoron is also a noun that's defined as "a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in 'cruel kindness' or 'to make haste slowly.'" So when contradictory or opposing words are combined, that expression is an oxymoron. June 3, 2022 . Easy Examples of Oxymorons Act naturally 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. That noun combines sophos, the Greek adjective meaning wise, with its intellectual opposite mros, meaning foolish.. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. Exactly! Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. If this statement is indeed false as it says, then this would actually make it true. Write with Grammarly. Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. The following is a list for kids who too are struggling to get the correct contradictory set of words together for an assignment or project. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. [19], "Comical oxymoron" is a term for the claim, for comical effect, that a certain phrase or expression is an oxymoron (called "opinion oxymorons" by Lederer (1990)[9]). How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. the word nascar is an oxymoron. The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings. 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. "Oxymoron" is Greek for "sharply dull," so the word is itself an oxymoron. Now, don't let your brain start to hurt just yetup next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. A person who is thrifty does not like to spend money. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. The humour derives from implying that an assumption (which might otherwise be expected to be controversial or at least non-evident) is so obvious as to be part of the lexicon. An oxymoron is a phrase made of two or more words that actually have opposite meanings. 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? The reader must momentarily pause to comprehend and process the meaningin other words, oxymorons make the reader think. May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. For example, in Chinese, compounds like (man and woman, male and female, gender), (yin and yang), (good and evil, morality) are used to indicate couples, ranges, or the trait that these are extremes of. 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". Bittersweet When we think of oxymorons, we often think of two-word phrases with seemingly opposite components, like "alone together" or "sweet sorrow." The best oxymorons emphasize contrasts, incongruities or the complex nature of reality. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings, like old news, deafening silence, or organized chaos. Oxymorons may seem illogical at first, but in context they usually make sense. nt authority local system. Need more help with this topic? The audience was a failure. Not monosyllabic or one word, but I came upon an "oxymoron that isn't" in a book I am reading, The Pale King, David Foster Wallace (posthumous): "spectacularly dull."It turns out this phrase is pretty common. oxymoron: 1 n conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence') Type of: figure , figure of speech , image , trope language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense 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 follows an earlier obsolete noun dingthrift, with ding meaning to deal blows to, knock down, or beat., We couldnt have a list of oxymorons without mentioning oxymoron itself. "melancholy merriment" (Byron), You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. Oxymoron definition: If you describe a phrase as an oxymoron , you mean that what it refers to combines two. Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite. 1. "darkness visible" (Milton), We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! Sophomore is the term for a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school. Oxymorons are common, often unconscious, literary devices. Lets get this one out of the way. How to use each word. However, the terms are also complementary as a pair. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More | Merriam-Webster Est. Some oxymorons are accidental and/or so common in our speech that we dont realize that theyre totally contradictory. A Comprehensive Guide. Like. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. Consider the sonnet. Oxymoron. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron. The adjective sophomoric has two meanings that bring a somewhat negative connotation to sophomores: conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature (as in a sophomoric argument) or lacking in maturity, taste, or judgment (as in sophomoric humor). to compound the power behind certain words. "proud humility" (Spenser),[13] Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. 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. The most common form of oxymoron involves an adjectivenoun combination of two words, but they can also be devised in the meaning of sentences or phrases. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. Huge List of Oxymorons. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. (One, in particular, is in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, wherein combining things that contrast is an ongoing theme.) But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". An oxymoron is a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. An oxymoron is an opposition between a term and the qualification that is given it, or between two qualities attributed to a single term, or between the simultaneous denial and assertion of the same fact or concept. 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). Usually, oxymorons are made up of just two words, but paradoxes are complete sentences, sometimes entire paragraphs. These word pairings are not inherently opposite, but their individual concepts can seem contradictory when combined. Learn a new word every day. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. This presents the word silence in a unique way thats particularly expressive. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? 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. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. A spendthrift, thereore, is a person who foolishly squanders those savings. 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. Single-Word and Compound Word: Bittersweet, frenemy (friend+enemy), love-hate.Adjective + Noun: Sweet sorrow (made famous by William . Hopefully, this list of oxymora has helped you understand how this figure of speech is supposed to be used. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. However, if you think too hard about the meaning, you'll realize that on the surface it doesn't quite make sense. These cookies do not store any personal information. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." O loving hate!"). Many oxymora are simple to understand and interpret their hidden meaning. Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. An oxymoron is usually just two words (sometimes one, as in bittersweet), but a paradox is an entire statement, usually a standalone sentence or even a fullparagraph. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Palindrome Examples: Words and Phrases That Are the Same Backwards and Forwards, The Most Confusing Rules in the Grammar World, Pangram Examples Every Word Lover Will Appreciate, Stock Your Spring Closet with 12 Dresses Under $100, More Than 300 Words Were Just Added to Dictionary.com, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The Sound of Silence: Song by Simon & Garfunkel, All your perfect imperfections: John Legend in his song All of Me, Clara Barton: I distinctly remember forgetting that., Isaac Bashevis Singer: We must believe in free will.
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