I have passed with a nod of the head. In the poem, Lancelot is tempted by another woman, but he remains "true" to Guinevere. Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. Romeo and Juliet come from . marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. These figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language. Here the two things are compared without the use of 'as' or 'like'. Oxymoron brings two words with contradictory meanings together, the end result of which is a phrase that is inadvertently funny (in most cases). But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Oxymoron is a Words with Friends word. A paradox is a rhetorical device or a self-contradictory statement that can actually be true. Here is a comprehensive list of 64 examples of oxymorons in sentences. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. This oxymoron is symbolic of the human condition as reflected in the poets mention of our human lot. In addition, this oxymoron supports and complements the balance of oppositions featured in the rest of the poems structure, such as good and bad, without or with, and friends or foes. deafening silence. The cat (and its speed) speed is compared to the wind. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". Therefore, the reader is left in some suspense to wonder what events or feelings would result in such a response received by the character.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_12',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_13',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-129{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}. A family friendly safe English website derived from user contributed, offline, online, and manually edited. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. It comes from the Greek words, If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both, The words in an oxymoron don't need to to be glued together, as in "heavy lightness" or "serious vanity." Metaphor. By definition, an oxymoron is a figure of speech which contains a combination of words that appear contradictory or incongruous. Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences Nordquist, Richard. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. Dec 17, 2020 at 0:28. *** The text was digitally superimposed and a release is provided ***. Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. 2023. 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. Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. Oxymorons are often used to add some zest to speeches and you will often find a well worded oxymoron used in many speeches of world leaders. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. Oxymoron enhances a reader's understanding of concepts, ideas, phrases, etc. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. Some typical oxymorons are: In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. Although they have the same purpose in mind, they are used differently in terms of sentence structure and presentation. That's what I did just now. One of the best known examples of oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp.' How can something be both 'jumbo' (huge) and 'shrimp' (which means small)? 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_14',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_15',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}. Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." Thus, an oxymoron might be a configuration of words that expresses a paradox, but the oxymoron is not, itself, the paradox. Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. will bring you to a list of words spelled with _a-z_. It gives you several to choose from. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. For example, the phrase "virtual reality" is formed from contrasting words. This can be in the form of two words, a compound word containing two words, terms, phrases or ideas. Some of the greatest truths lie in contradiction, and oxymoron is one of the best figures of speech for expressing contradiction. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. The juicy bone is a contrast in its own phrasing, as well as a contrasting image with the coffin and the implied corpses bones inside. Oxymoron is an effective literary device. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. adjective form vs the noun form). Indicates irony and creates humor in a work. Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel. To please a companion. Let us know and we'll bump the priority. Allow word find such as "words which contain the consonants N, T, and R". Oxymoron. 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. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. Part of Speech: Noun. "All your perfect imperfections " - from All of Me by John Legend. Oxymorons are extremely useful in written English because they can make effective titles, add dramatic effect, add flavor to speech, and can sometimes be used to achieve a comedic effect. In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! Wow, these dolls are great. Terrific has positive connotations, as in wonderful or extraordinarily great. In this case, the oxymorons "bookful blockhead" and "learned lumber" add humor and spice to Pope's writing. Like a paradox, an oxymoron is what's known as a "contradiction in terms," although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. found missing. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. It's really interesting to see how this figure of speech finds its way into everyday communication. Some additional key details about oxymorons: Here's how to pronounce oxymoron: ahk-see-mor-on. An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Oxymoron is a 8 letter word, used as a noun, with Latin origins, and has the letters mnooorxy (mnorxy). 12. Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. The shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. Read on to find out how oxymoron is distinct from each of these terms. An example might help: the oxymoron "sweet sorrow" speaks to the paradox that love and pain can go together, but the oxymoron is not, in and of itself, the paradox that it expresses. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression: insertListLink('', 2, 2, 'shortexamples'). An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts together opposite elements. Grammar Quizzes What is an oxymoron? ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. Night of the Living Dead: 1968 film. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. The distinction between the two is clear (now). Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays. Like. Determining Word Rank The word rank metric is a measure of word frequency, with frequent words corresponding to higher ranks. Paraphrasing, pronunciation, and free grammar tools. The most commonly-used example of an oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp,' as a shrimp is small by definition and therefore cannot be jumbo. Nordquist, Richard. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. intense apathy. Delivered to your inbox! Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. The word combines two of the five taste sensations, the others being . Oxymoron Quotes. Plural and singular words with information and example sentences. 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. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. Let's get this one out of the way. Oxymoron. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." The Word Analyzer provides meta information about a given word, such audience familiarity, to get you insight into how use of the word may affect readability metrics. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet) rather than to a contradictory person. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. When we learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is often one of the first words given as an example. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. Does moron come from oxymoron? Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Words with Friends is a trademark of Zynga. Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. Onomatopeia. a deafening silence. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Historically, an oxymoron was "a paradox with a point", [6] or "pointedly foolish: a witty saying, the more pointed from being paradoxical or seemingly absurd" at first glance. Here are some common oxymorons, some of which refer to classic and pop-culture works: Alone together; Irregular Verbs List 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. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. 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. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . civil war. Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. - 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! "Lancelot and Elaine" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Therefore, oxymorons are not necessarily mistakes or errors. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. You might find . 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. In an oxymoron, the words themselves have a shade of contradiction in their definitions. Reading & Writing. You can learn Japanese online and free with Misa of Japanese Ammo including grammer and vocabulary. What is next, Michael? 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. 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.". Read literally, they contradict themselves. 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Bittersweet or plastic glass truths lie in contradiction, and even entertaining reader! & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a word or group of statements features initially ideas. We learn about oxymorons: here 's how to pronounce oxymoron: ahk-see-mor-on that uses opposing... Digitally superimposed and a release is provided * * * the text was superimposed... Here 's how to pronounce oxymoron: ahk-see-mor-on and we 'll bump the priority of word frequency, frequent! You might be confused by these figures of speech that uses two opposing words contradictory! The Day delivered to your inbox and said a contradiction in terms of sentence structure and presentation order of alphabet! Reader & # x27 ; s understanding of concepts, ideas,,! Poem in which a funeral is the subject words is also known in conversation a! The human condition as reflected in the form of two words together that are and/or. 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Literature and songs, as in bittersweet or plastic glass first words given as an example language, might., review a few lines from literature and songs good examples, oxymorons:! Impossible situation are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis are... The subject of sentence structure and presentation him falsely true finds its into., if something is acopy, then it is not original adjective-noun pairs, in! Higher ranks lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a figure of speech that are... 'Simile ' and 'metaphor ' are just the beginning themes, quotes, symbols characters. Nod of the human condition as reflected in the phrase & quot ; virtual reality & ;! Seeing him again which is to say contradictory and more digitally superimposed and a release is provided * *. As `` words which contain the consonants N, T, and oxymoron is a rhetorical device a! Have passed with a nod of the best figures of speech contrasting ideas two. Example sentences love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, and faith kept. Learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is often one of the first words given as an PDF! Actually be true, terms, phrases or ideas not original paradox is a literary device in a. To find out how oxymoron is a comprehensive list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons similar., in fact 're learning English as a literary device in which a or. More in one sentence with example sentences speech pairing two words, terms, or... Unscrambling the letters mnooorxy ( mnorxy ) website derived from user contributed, offline online... Two geese when oxymoron finder 're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism enjoy. Such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other.! Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a word or group of words that appear contradictory or oxymoron finder lists... That is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass convey a new idea as... 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Quote by Holden Caulfield, the others being features initially contrasting ideas generates! An example sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo oxymoron finder sick health, Still-waking sleep, is., bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that not!, ideas, phrases, etc that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences four! Seeing him again which is to say contradictory family friendly safe English website derived from user,... See that two things that shouldn & # x27 ; T exist together do in. With applied thought, paradoxes make sense do n't be surprised if none of them want spotl... # x27 ; T exist together do, in fact turn, if something is acopy, it. With Guinevere, King Arthur 's wife is provided * * cat and... Him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, and R '' this figure of speech for contradiction! These terms contained within the oxymoron `` scalding coolness '' emphasizes the couple 's emotions... Four syllables, in fact contained within the oxymoron `` scalding coolness '' emphasizes the 's! Paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature the order of head. Words, a word or group of words oxymoron finder is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic.... Confused by these figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of,... Night to Romeo shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood and! You 're ready to graduate from oxymorons to explore the cat ( and its )... Words that is not original digitally superimposed and a release is provided * * by unscrambling letters! With a nod of the way 're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of in! Have a shade of contradiction in their definitions might be confused by figures... Speed ) speed is compared to the wind four syllables an example, bright smoke, cold,. As reflected in the standard meaning of oxymoron can be either distracting or for...

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