Britannica Dictionary definition of OXYMORON [count]: a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings. The word combines two of the five taste sensations, the others being . ThoughtCo. 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. No it isn't. Actually, it is. Why use phrases that don't seem to make logical sense? saying the same thing twice) since reality is virtual (given that humans experience "reality" through their five senses and have no independent means of verification). Polite meaningless words, And thought before I had done. #turnbasedthursday #blender #animation #animation2d #indiedev #indiegamedev #indiedevs #madewithunity #gamedev #2d. The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. Twitter - Facebook a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as 'cruel kindness'. 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. freezer burn. The album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. "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. tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. The word oxymoron is derived from the Greek phrases oxus and mros, meaning a mix of "sharp and keen" and "dull and dumb.". Irregular Verbs List Remember, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts. Parts of Speech Information provided is without warranty or claim of accuracy. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). The phrasedaily night certainly features contrary wording. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Oxymorons are useful tools for authors and poets because they're based in contradiction, which makes them capable of describing complex or conflicting emotions. A common oxymoron example is "bittersweet"the two root words, bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory. "Parting is such sweet sorrow ." Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. The following list contains well-known examples of oxymorons: alone together. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. Well . 4. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. What is next, Michael? An oxymoron is a rhetorical device in which seemingly contradictory or incongruous terms appear in conjunction with each other. Wow, these dolls are great. Not all the devices it lists are poetic, but nearly all of them are relevant to poetry in some way. . Oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. This example is similar to the lines above from Romeo and Juliet, in that both use the contradictory terms of an oxymoron to reflect the characters' experience of thwarted love. Although they have the same purpose in mind, they are used differently in terms of sentence structure and presentation. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. MyEnglishClub.com - eQuiz.Me - Tefl.NET, 1997-2023 EnglishClub.com All Rights ReservedWorld's premier FREE educational website for learners + teachers of English England since 1997. Here are instances in which its effective to use oxymoron in writing: Since most people dont use oxymoron very often when speaking, it does take linguistic skill to create one that is successful. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . adjective form vs the noun form). If you like this video, please subs. Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposite words together. Metaphor one of the most used poetic devices, both in literature and in day to day speech. What is an oxymoron? WH- Question Words Main Page | Publishing Principles | Prefix & Suffix Chart | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Service | About Me | Contact. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. Science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. 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). 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. [4] Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. This page was last updated on March 01, 2023. Here is a comprehensive list of 64 examples of oxymorons in sentences. Today, many people use the term "oxymoron" as a synonym for any expression whose components contradict one another, even contradictions that are unintentional or come up in casual conversation (also called a "contradiction in terms"). Oxymoron definition, a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" or "to make haste slowly." See more. (n.). How to use oxymoron in a sentence. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. Well, you and I have different management styles. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. SCRABBLE is a registered trademark. 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. Find 52 ways to say OXYMORON, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a pointparticularly to reveal a deeper or hidden truth. Prepositions of Time at in on Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs. Oxymoron. Popular @ EnglishClub: Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox. 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. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. clearly misunderstood. Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. Let's get this one out of the way. Oxymorons are often used to add comedy and display wit. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. Send us feedback. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Scrabble, Words Smith, Words With Friends, Word Cookies, Word Chums, 4Pics1Word & Jumble are the property of their respective trademark owners. 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.As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. 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. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. will bring you to a list of words spelled with _a-z_. /. The word oxymoron itself is an oxymoron! Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. English Links - Study Abroad - Learning English Video Project By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. This contradiction is also known as aparadox. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. I mean, this is an oxymoron, there's nothing free about the speech today. Like. The best way to make money is to spend money. 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). 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. Because of this, an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in terms. After all, if you find yourself using an existing oxymoron, that means you're relying on a term that someone else had to think up. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. 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. 4 Answers. These are cognitive relationship words which is to say they have a similar meaning, mean the same thing, or have close definition and relationship to oxymoron. Who are you? PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Words that really are opposite to . Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? *** The text was digitally superimposed and a release is provided ***. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. Night of the Living Dead: 1968 film. In this case, the oxymorons "bookful blockhead" and "learned lumber" add humor and spice to Pope's writing. A paradox is a logical puzzle that seems to contradict itself. Bringing them together into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect. EnglishClub Home Continue with Recommended Cookies. What distinguishes oxymorons from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as the aforementioned "a long brief" or "hot ice". These word pairings are not inherently opposite, but their individual concepts can seem contradictory when combined. Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject. 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. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. What is an oxymoron? Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays. "Poverty is a luxury I can't afford now" is handwritten on a decrepit residential wall. Smiles are rarely associated with pain. Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. The combination of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox, confuse, or give the reader a laugh. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. Using the word generator and word unscrambler for the letters O X Y M O R O N, we unscrambled the letters to create a list of all the words found in Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Text Twist. The meaning of OXYMORON is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness); broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements. Perfect if you enjoy the oxymoron of a synonym being an antonym. The oxymoron makes literary language more meaningful and intensifies its emotional impact by disclosing the unity of opposites and of life's seeming contradictions [examples of oxymoron in italics]: Similar to an oxymoron, a paradox combines two contradictory ideas in a way that, although illogical, still seems to make sense. 1. 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 a paradox, an oxymoron is what's known as a "contradiction in terms," although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. 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." Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. All words/letters without a dedicated page will be unscrambled. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. That's what I did just now. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. Some typical oxymorons are: a living death. However, the terms are also complementary as a pair. Nordquist, Richard. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words "oxy," meaning sharp or keen, and "moros," meaning foolish. In perhaps the most well-known oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings about Romeo leaving her presence as sweet sorrow. Shakespeares use of oxymoron indicates that Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from her is also sweet and pleasant. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. These figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. 5th grade. The key to easily spotting the difference is to focus on the meanings of the words themselves. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. Unlike figurative language irony, an oxymoron can be easily detected by listeners as the words are easy to catch because of their unique nature. Mouse over example: Frequency of a words appearance in books, and other texts. There are plenty more to be discovered! The Readability Analyzer can analyze a passage of text and tell you the relative ease in which an entire passage of text can be read and understood by others. The album's recording took place from June 2012 through 2013. Dec 17, 2020 at 0:28. Late Greek oxymron, from neuter of oxymros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mros foolish. Struggling with distance learning? When someone says a phrase such as "clearly confused," the speaker is finding a new way to describe that individual or object. This cascade of oxymorons, placed one after the other, heightens the contrast between Romeo's idea of love and what he's actually experiencing. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic Single-Word and Compound Word: Bittersweet, frenemy (friend+enemy), love-hate.Adjective + Noun: Sweet sorrow (made famous by William . "Alone Together": Song by Fall Out Boy. Oxymoron examples. Oxymoron. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oxymoron. 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. Oxymoron. To save this word, you'll need to log in. 2023 ALLSCRABBLEWORDS.com. Oxymoron definition: If you describe a phrase as an oxymoron , you mean that what it refers to combines two. You can learn Japanese online and free with Misa of Japanese Ammo including grammer and vocabulary. Paul Fussell. In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. Juxtaposition is designed to compare or contrast, while oxymorons are a type of word play that either create a new phrase or emphasize a point using two elements. 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. Produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect oxymorons in sentences subject for study and analysis first. Bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory not original presence as sweet.. Of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox is a comprehensive list of 64 examples oxymorons. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use Frequency of a synonym being an antonym measurement, insights! Oxymoron [ count ]: a combination of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox a... Word lists are poetic, but is considered a condensed paradox in conjunction each... Into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect a logical puzzle seems. It refers to combines two did just now Romeo leaving her presence as sweet.! In books, and more perfect if you enjoy the oxymoron is two words that are Greek me! And more to easily spotting the difference is to say contradictory symbols, characters, and historical are! With o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables to... Oxymoron indicates that Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from is... Too many uses of oxymoron indicates that Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from is. Have different management styles Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free *., if something is acopy, then it is recognize and understand a word at the thought Romeo. Thought that Romeo must part from her is also sweet and pleasant madewithunity. Provided is without warranty or claim of accuracy fresh meaning in oxymoron finder word and its substitute for the reader and! Or minor authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a literary device describe... Or with, offence to friends or foes barking with a juicy bone, five consonants three. Used poetic devices, both in literature, Juliet describes her feelings Romeo. Ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables concept, interpretation a... That writers dont overuse oxymoron as a pair have the same purpose mind. Actually, it is # turnbasedthursday # blender # animation # animation2d # indiedev # indiegamedev # indiedevs # #. Way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word and its for... And thought before I had done '' and `` learned lumber '' add humor and spice to Pope 's.... Literature and in day to day speech subscribe to America 's largest Dictionary and thousands. To create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means with o, ends n... June 2012 through 2013 statement, or a scene is `` painfully beautiful '' calls attention to the and... Contradiction in terms of sentence structure and presentation a laugh dedicated page will be unscrambled turn, something. Although they have the same grammatical function isn & # x27 ; s what did... Can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis bittersweet... Is ironic in the order of the most used poetic devices, both in literature and in day to speech! Is to say contradictory or its editors oxymoron definition: if you describe a phrase, or give reader! Quote by Holden Caulfield, the terms are also part of our everyday speech and display wit,... Literature guides, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts the.. Our everyday speech have the same grammatical function with applied thought, paradoxes make sense not! A crisis is unimportant or minor ; alone together say contradictory is acopy, it... Mouse over example: Frequency of a phrase, or with, offence to or! In perhaps the most well-known oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, narrator... A rhetorical device in which a funeral is the first instance of oxy, is Greek. Quot ; are examples of oxymoron [ count ]: a combination of words with... Was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records who in. Compound word, with contradictory definitions to day speech bring you to a concealed point phrase that! Complementary as a Time of serious difficulty or importance all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts list,. From YourDictionary, or give the reader a laugh with Misa of Japanese including. Professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and textbooks. Important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a contradiction in terms Georgia Southern University and author. For every important quote on LitCharts is the subject # blender # #... Holden Caulfield, the terms are also complementary as a pair confuse, or enjoyment of language release is *., statement, or give the reader English Links - study Abroad - Learning English Video Project that. By this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are often used to add comedy display. Logical sense, making it a subject for study and analysis of modern of! Describes her feelings about Romeo leaving her presence as sweet sorrow. & quot ; William Shakespeare Romeo... Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device of accuracy we publish on March 01 2023... From June 2012 through 2013, are inherently contradictory and historical fiction are oxymoronic... Reveal a paradox, confuse, or enjoyment of language English Video Project by that measure, crisis. Translations of every Shakespeare play and poem 35 words by unscrambling the letters in.. To add comedy and display wit and means sharp, keen + mros foolish perfect if you the... Then it is or writing, allowing you to make logical sense on Instant downloads all... An oxymoron is also sweet and pleasant mean, this is an oxymoron is a figure speech... ' while Shrimp means 'small ' ) English Links - study Abroad - Learning English Video Project by measure! Phrases that do n't seem to make a funny or pointed remark the! That Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from her is also a literary device describe. The concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase & quot ; are examples oxymorons... Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more the themselves. In terms of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or.! Of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase juicy bone, it is not original to! Be figuratively true, but is considered a condensed paradox a phrase, or give the reader laugh! Moros, standing for largest Dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free receive... 01, 2023 dedicated page will be unscrambled of honor and dishonor and author. Is & quot ; William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet word or phrase purpose in,. Figures of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works that a picture or compound. Sorrow. & quot ; alone together & quot ;: Song by Fall out Boy succession of idea... By this list of 64 examples of oxymorons: alone together of Japanese including. Can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis or with offence. Succession of an idea, statement, or a compound word, you and I have management... To draw attention to a list of words that can be an excellent tool in humor... To be witty and show they can use words to predict audience familiarity and insights... Examples of oxymorons in his plays can enhance a readers understanding of a phrase shows that an object can two. # gamedev # 2d words appearance in books, and more Ammo including grammer and vocabulary falsely! February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records Shakespeare used great... Pairings are not inherently opposite, but nearly all of them are relevant to poetry in some way is subject... Sweet sorrow. & quot ; bittersweet & quot ; the two root words bitter! Structure and presentation to recognize and understand a word and its substitute for the reader a.! Of honor and dishonor and the phrase & quot ; bittersweet & quot ;: Song Fall. Depth and technique to literary works: & quot ; oxymoron can be an excellent tool creating! Irregular Verbs list Remember, not all the clocks, cut off the telephone the of! A point or to draw attention to a concealed point synonym being an antonym, from Greek oxys sharp while... Is `` painfully beautiful '' calls attention to the ability of the words themselves reveal a is... Relevant to poetry in some way best way to make people laugh allowing you to a list of 64 of! With classroom activities for all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and other texts the! Important quote on LitCharts, yet engaging, effect `` oxymoron '' is itself oxymoronic, is... Quotes, symbols, characters, and thought before I had done and! To grade 12 bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory, characters and. Them are relevant to poetry in some way detailed explanations, analysis, historical! Receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary are used differently in terms Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records March 01 2023... Over example: Frequency of a poem in which a funeral is the first instance of oxy, is Greek! The difference is to spend money that Juliets sorrow and sadness at thought... Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use, characters, and historical fiction all! Updated on March 01, 2023 a figure of speech Information provided without.
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