The inherent setup of contradictory words works great for jokes and other witty statements. . There are many examples of oxymorons in the English language such as "jumbo shrimp," "hot ice," and "civil war." Oxymoron is a word that literally means "contradictory terms." 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}. One of the most famous examples of a paradox is thesentence, "This statement is false." 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. Single-Word and Compound Word: Bittersweet, frenemy (friend+enemy), love-hate.Adjective + Noun: Sweet sorrow (made famous by William . parting is such sweet sorrow. One goose, two geese. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. Delivered to your inbox! Bringing them together into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect. The suggestion is that after a year into high school or college, a sophomore might think they know everything there is to know, but really has a long way to go. Learn more. Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. They are "word searches" and matching puzzles. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. 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. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression: insertListLink('', 2, 2, 'shortexamples'). pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. The reader must momentarily pause to comprehend and process the meaningin other words, oxymorons make the reader think. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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). Even though the two words are often antonyms (words with opposite meanings), they don't negate each other. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. brennan boesch career earnings cameron boyce funeral cameron boyce funeral (see what we did there? [23], Other examples include "honest politician", "act naturally", "affordable caviar" (1993),[24] "happily married" and "Microsoft Works" (2000).[25]. ., And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true., The main difference between an oxymoron and a paradox is that, . Consider the sonnet. ThoughtCo. The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective followed by a noun with contrasting meanings. Discussed by L. Coltheart in Moira Gatens, "This opened up an oxymoron too dreadful to contemplate: affordable caviar" (, Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 22:29, Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics, http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75acarlin2.phtml, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oxymoron&oldid=1140812370, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 22:29. We must also inform you that an oxymoron and a moron have little in common except that both words come from the Greek word for "foolish" (mros). Your writing, at its best This love feel I, that feel no love in this. However, the terms are also complementary as a pair. 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. Adding "jumbo" doesn't make the . The word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron; in Greek, oxy- means "sharp" or "wise," while moros means "foolish." Is an oxymoron always 2 words? Posted at 14:06h in does jetblue have power outlets by white stuff on frozen chicken. The most commonly-used example of an oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp,' as a shrimp is small by definition and therefore cannot be jumbo. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814 (accessed March 4, 2023). Crustacean. Oxymoron is an effective literary device. Meghan Jones is a word nerd who has been writing for RD.com since 2017. The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. The Italian pianoforte or fortepiano is an example from a Western language; the term is short for gravicembalo col piano e forte, as it were "harpiscord with a range of different volumes", implying that it is possible to play both soft and loud (as well as intermediate) notes, not that the sound produced is somehow simultaneously "soft and loud". It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but its not. Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." 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. We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time? 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]. This contradiction is also known as a paradox. According to Dictionary, the word oxymoron has been used since the 17th century and comes from the New Latin and Late Latin oxymorum, which stems from the presumed Greek oxmron and Greek oxumron which is the neuter of oxmros/oxumros and equivalent to ox, then added to the suffix mrs. A paradox is a statement that technically contradicts itself but remains true nonetheless. An oxymoron refers to a word, phrase, or use of language that seems to directly contradict itself, and it is believed to come from the Greek ox(s), sharp, andmrs, dull. So the word for oxymoron actuallyisan oxymoron in Greek! SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. This presents the word. Slow and steady wins the race. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. Read literally, they contradict themselves. Delivered to your inbox! 2020, Preposterous suggests the idea of conflict in its meaning: contrary to nature, reason, or common sense, as in a preposterous notion.. The dictionary defines an oxymoron as a "wittily paradoxical turn of phrase that appeals to 'unconscious responses' instead of rational examinations". Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King, Parting is such sweet sorrow. oxymoron definition: 1. two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings: 2. two words. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. Oxymorons present an ideal opportunity to be clever or funny. The best oxymorons emphasize contrasts, incongruities or the complex nature of reality. 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. A paradox is a term that presents a situation where two events seem unlikely to coexist. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. But pairing it with deafening gives silence a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. 309 likes. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! Generally, an oxymoron phrase is a . This famous quotation from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. the word nascar is an oxymoron 03 Jun. Mom, and True Lies.. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. We already gave an oxymoron definition above, so here lets talk about paradoxes. Merriam-Webster defines an oxymoron as a rhetorical device in which a combination of contradictory or incongruous words is used in conjunction. The scope of a paradox can go much deeper, drawing on complicated themes and philosophical concepts. [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]). It involves pairing words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a deeper meaning in the context. Despite what it might sound like, noan oxymoron isnt something you can call your little brother when hes bugging you. 4 Answers. the word nascar is an oxymoron. Lederer (1990), in the spirit of "recreational linguistics", goes as far as to construct "logological oxymorons"[jargon] such as reading the word nook composed of "no" and "ok" or the surname Noyes as composed of "no" plus "yes", or far-fetched punning such as "divorce court", "U.S. Army Intelligence" or "press release". Well go over exactly what an oxymoron is and then show you four oxymoron examples from pop culture and literature. Generally, the ideas will come as two separate words placed side by side. One moose, two moose. Home Uncategorized the word nascar is an oxymoron. O anything of nothing first create! All Rights Reserved. Wills argues that use of the term "oxymoron" should remain reserved for the conscious use of contradiction to express something that is "surprisingly true". The audience was a failure. 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). One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Oxymorons are common, often unconscious, literary devices. 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. Despite the similarities, however, oxymorons and paradoxes are two different types of literary devices, each with their own special usage. The word "oxymoron" is derived from Greek a combination of oxy- meaning keen or sharp and -mrs meaning dull or foolish. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. 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 You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. The word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron itself and derives from the . 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. We recommend our users to update the browser. 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: . . . 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. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. Feeling 'bumfuzzled' or have the 'collywobbles'? PDF. Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation: Good night, good night! by William Shakespeare, wherein combining things that contrast is an ongoing theme.) Oscar Wilde. 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. Check out the oxymoron definition. Rather, an oxymoron is a cool literary device you can use in your creative writing. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! This is an oxymoron because all babies are small. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. Two involve the palindrome, two involve the oxymoron, and one involves onomatopoeia. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. That noun combines sophos, the Greek adjective meaning wise, with its intellectual opposite mros, meaning foolish.. 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. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! 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). All rights reserved. However, liar has negative connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs. Lets get this one out of the way. 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. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. the word nascar is an oxymoron. , oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing, all of which are quite useful in the right situation: Oxymorons tend to have deeper meanings and be more memorable than noncontradictory words, so they work great at key points in your writing for boosting reader engagement. One classic example of the use of oxymorons in English literature can be found in this example from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo strings together thirteen in a row: O brawling love! They are known as oxymora, and in this article, you will find an oxymoron list, which will give you some really good and yet, funny oxymora so that you can understand the concept better. The word 'big' is added to emphasise the fact that someone is acting more childishly than you would expect. 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. 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 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Here are some of our favorite oxymoron examples. Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! He gave me a. However, as there are so many, you might not catch them all. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few. 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. The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. [11], Other examples from English-language literature include: These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. My play was a complete success. An oxymoron is a term for 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. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. Season 1, Episode 1. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? Who are you? 11 October 1975. 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.) situs link alternatif kamislot the word nascar is an oxymoron Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. An oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two antithetical or contradictory concepts. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." These figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings. Indeed, oxymorons are often used to make fun of an idea, person, or . Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. 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. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). 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. In a more extended sense, the term "oxymoron" has also been applied to inadvertent or incidental contradictions, as in the case of "dead metaphors" ("barely clothed" or "terribly good"). 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 . 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. From 5th century Latin oxymoron, from Ancient Greek (oxus, "sharp") (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + (mros, "dull") (English moron ("stupid person")).Literally "sharp-dull", itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore (literally "wise fool"), influenced by similar analysis.The compound form * (oxumron) is not found in the extant Greek . These word pairings are not inherently opposite, but their individual concepts can seem contradictory when combined. More than a few have even become commonplace expressions in modern-day English, such as these oxymoron examples: As with other literary devices like metaphor, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole, oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing, all of which are quite useful in the right situation: As a contradiction of terms, an oxymoron both stands out and also elicits critical thinking. Then check out our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. Samuel Johnson defined it as, "a rhetorical figure in which an epithet of a quite contrary signification is added to any word or phrase creating a contradiction in terms.". 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. Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and ina breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting. Lord Byron, Don Juan: Canto VIII, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, 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. Oxymorons is now more common in print than oxymora, but you'll find the latter listed in most dictionaries. Take a look at which ones you have used in conversation: Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. (One, in particular, is in. Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? One moose, two moose. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. "melancholy merriment" (Byron), One feature of this kind of poem is its tendency to describe love as a strange mixture of pain and pleasure. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". Nordquist also notes that, "In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm.". Superette might not strike you as the most obvious oxymoron. Awfully good, bittersweet, same difference, and original copy are a few oxymoron examples. The distinction between the two is clear (now). oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. The term "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron as it derives from the Greek "oxus" (sharp) and "moros" (stupid). The word "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron. Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. In 1778, the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier (1743-94) proposed for the recently discovered element the name . Late Greek oxymron, from neuter of oxymros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mros foolish. no longer a productive compound in English, but loaned as a compound from a different language), as with pre-posterous (lit. How to use each word. "[21], Examples popularized by comedian George Carlin in 1975 include "military intelligence" (a play on the lexical meanings of the term "intelligence", implying that "military" inherently excludes the presence of "intelligence") and "business ethics" (similarly implying that the mutual exclusion of the two terms is evident or commonly understood rather than the partisan anti-corporate position). "Saturday Night Live transcripts." Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. A spendthrift, thereore, is a person who foolishly squanders those savings. It's likely you've used, or at least heard, a few oxymorons in your everyday life, even if you didn't realize it at the time. The Latin praeposterus literally means in the wrong order. The prefix prae- means in front of, before, and posterus means following or behind (as in posterior). They also occasionally work well with. 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. You mightve heard of another literary device called the paradox, which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. By extension, oxymorons deal with the contrast between the meanings of words, but paradoxes focus on the contrast between complete ideas. Well provide oxymoron examples and provide guidance on how theyre used, but first, lets look at a more thorough oxymoron definition. your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. it is itself an example of an oxymoron. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. . to compound the power behind certain words. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. Next, read up on what an aphorism is and how its used. Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words.