The scope of a paradox can go much deeper, drawing on complicated themes and philosophical concepts. Preparing totake the AP Literature test? Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. One of the most famous examples of a paradox is thesentence, "This statement is false." An oxymoronis a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. My play was a complete success. Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. [20] If you're calling someone a "shrimp" meaning small or little, and then adding the adjective "jumbo," THEN it's an oxymoron. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. This next oxymoron example is about Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot's tragic love affair. Easy Examples of Oxymorons Act naturally "with the hinder part before", compare hysteron proteron, "upside-down", "head over heels", "ass-backwards" etc. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 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). Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few. "wise-foolish"). We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions ThoughtCo. One moose, two moose. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." As rhetorical devices, oxymorons have been used in many different mediums from political speeches to novels to stage plays. But pairing it with, a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. This contradiction is also known as aparadox. Smiles are rarely associated with pain. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs. Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. [11], Other examples from English-language literature include: [9] Awfully good, bittersweet, same difference, and original copy are a few oxymoron examples. Writing, grammar, and communication tips for your inbox. 1481-82). I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. 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! Think jumbo shrimp. For nearly 40 years . 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. Adding "jumbo" doesn't make the . They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: With loads of learned lumber in his head . Feel free to look throughthis vast list of oxymoron examplesif youre in need of an oxymoron for something you're writing or if you simply want tolearn some of the most commonones. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. By extension, oxymorons deal with the contrast between the meanings of words, but paradoxes focus on the contrast between complete ideas. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? 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. . Superette might not strike you as the most obvious oxymoron. O loving hate! However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. My Blog the word nascar is an oxymoron This list is in no way comprehensive, and just aims at giving you an idea as to what oxymora are. 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]. An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two terms seem contradictory. Lord Byron, Don Juan: Canto VIII, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but its not. "Oxymoron" is Greek for "sharply dull," so the word is itself an oxymoron. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both oxymorons and oxymora are correct. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! (Hence you might buy vintage clothing for cheap at a thrift store.) The violent display ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries. Indeed, oxymorons are often used to make fun of an idea, person, or . Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. 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. 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. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. brennan boesch career earnings cameron boyce funeral cameron boyce funeral 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. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. In a 2009 article called "Daredevil", Garry Wills accused William F. Buckley of popularising this trend, based on the success of the latter's claim that "an intelligent liberal is an oxymoron. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Whether bitter is really the opposite of sweet on the taste spectrum is arguable, but they are often contrasted since bitter is associated with medicines or some vegetables (like radishes) while sweet is associated with, well, sweets (candy and desserts). Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Oxymorons present an ideal opportunity to be clever or funny. An oxymoron refers to a word, phrase, or use of language that seems to directly contradict itself, and it is. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. oxymoron definition: 1. two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings: 2. two words. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. "damn with faint praise" (Pope),[15] Listing of antonyms, such as "good and evil", "male and female", "great and small", etc., does not create oxymorons, as it is not implied that any given object has the two opposing properties simultaneously. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The main difference between an oxymoron and a paradox is that oxymorons use contradictory words whereas paradoxes use contradictory ideas. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Paul Fussell. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Learn a new word every day. The term "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron as it derives from the Greek "oxus" (sharp) and "moros" (stupid). Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. mars 15, 2021 . 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. Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. - 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! 309 likes. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). However, others can be intentional: For instance, in the phrase deafening silence, the seeming contradiction only serves to emphasize the intensity of the silence. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Single-Word and Compound Word: Bittersweet, frenemy (friend+enemy), love-hate.Adjective + Noun: Sweet sorrow (made famous by William . juni 14, 2022; Posted by synology broadcast storm; 14 . One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. When we think of oxymorons, we often think of two-word phrases with seemingly opposite components, like "alone together" or "sweet sorrow." Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time? He gave me a. "expressive silence" (Thomson, echoing Cicero's Latin: cum tacent clamant, lit. Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. The Ancient Greeks came up with this term for a rhetorical device employing contradiction by combining the word for sharp, keen (oxys) with the aforementioned mros, meaning foolish.. The word combines two of the five taste sensations, the others being salty, sour, and savory (umami). Like chiaroscuro, pianoforte is an Italian term used in the arts, combining the adjectives for soft and loud. The music direction forte-piano means loud then immediately soft.. Oxymoron is an effective literary device. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). "conventionally unconventional", "tortuous spontaneity" (Henry James)[17] There is nothing really contradictory about jumbo shrimp, for examplea shrimp is a crustacean that comes in a variety of sizes and happens to have another sense meaning a small thing. Others, such as guest host or plastic glass, depend on how much credence you give to the idea of their components being opposites. This five puzzle package is a collection of the five puzzles that I've written on the palindrome, the oxymoron, and the onomatopoeia figures of speech. The word oxymoron 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. Grammarly stands with our friends, colleagues, and family in Ukraine, and with all people of Ukraine. the word nascar is an oxymoron. Accessed 4 Mar. Check out the funniest accidental, and intentional, malapropism examples as well. The combining form oxy- is present in the word oxygen. The phrase original copyis a good illustration of an oxymoron. Well also provide you with an extensive list of oxymoronsso you can get a better feel for what oxymorons look and sound like. Home Uncategorized the word nascar is an oxymoron. Take a look at which ones you have used in conversation: Oftentimes a phrase cited as an example of an oxymoron is really just a play on words. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. "[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). We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation: Good night, good night! What is an oxymoron? The scope of oxymorons, however, is limited only to the scope of the individual words used. Next, read up on what an aphorism is and how its used. Amplification Definition and Examples in Rhetoric, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York. Delivered to your inbox! Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. 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 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 . This book, in which Wallace presents employees of the IRS and their spectacularly damaged lives, often dwells on the connection between tedium and pain. 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. Find 52 ways to say OXYMORON, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. 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 is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. 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? All rights reserved. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oxymoron. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." The best oxymorons emphasize contrasts, incongruities or the complex nature of reality. The most commonly-used example of an oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp,' as a shrimp is small by definition and therefore cannot be jumbo. The dictionary defines an oxymoron as a "wittily paradoxical turn of phrase that appeals to 'unconscious responses' instead of rational examinations". An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. Oxymoron Quotes. Huge List of Oxymorons. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. no longer a productive compound in English, but loaned as a compound from a different language), as with pre-posterous (lit. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. That makes oxymorons a serious option in word choice. With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Reading these words together will often cause a reader to pause and think about what the writer is trying to convey. Lets get this one out of the way. Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and ina breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting. in a unique way thats particularly expressive. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. $8.95. "darkness visible" (Milton), Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. All rights reserved. That noun combines sophos, the Greek adjective meaning wise, with its intellectual opposite mros, meaning foolish.. In other words, oxymorons are contradictive words or phrases used intentionally to create an effect. 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.