Metaphor. Need more synonyms now? For some the term is an oxymoron, used only jokingly when referring to the number of keggers that one manages to get trashed at during a school term. As the example's author, Richard Watson Todd, said, "The true beauty of oxymorons is that, unless we sit back and really think, we happily accept them as normalEnglish. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox. The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. Click these words to find out how many points they are worth, their definitions, and all the other words that can be made by unscrambling the letters from these words. Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. The combination of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox, confuse, or give the reader a laugh. "Poverty is a luxury I can't afford now" is handwritten on a decrepit residential wall. Different results appear for sounds and rhymes. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. Refine any search. However, the terms are also complementary as a pair. This would provide a list of words with letters in a specific order, such as the consonants in the order of ntr. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. For example, 'cats' and 'cat' both have the same stem, as do 'readability' and 'readable.' "a long brief" or "hot ice". Some people mistake pairs of antonyms for oxymorons, but they are not the same. Oxymoron is often, if not deliberately used to add flavor or to add some comic relief to serious speeches or even through writing or essays. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. An oxymoron is a phrase that sounds as if it is contradictory. 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.". Browse 110 oxymoron stock photos and images available, or search for contradiction or irony to find more great stock photos and pictures. Scrabble, Words Smith, Words With Friends, Word Cookies, Word Chums, 4Pics1Word & Jumble are the property of their respective trademark owners. Oxymoron is a 8 letter word, used as a noun, with Latin origins, and has the letters mnooorxy (mnorxy). Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. 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. I have passed with a nod of the head. 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. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression: insertListLink('', 2, 2, 'shortexamples'). In this poem about the love between Lancelot and Guinevere, Tennyson uses oxymoron in this line: "His honor rooted in dishonor stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.". Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. Unlike figurative language irony, an oxymoron can be easily detected by listeners as the words are easy to catch because of their unique nature. In the poem, Lancelot is tempted by another woman, but he remains "true" to Guinevere. 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. I mean, this is an oxymoron, there's nothing free about the speech today. Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. and adjective form vs the noun form). The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Nordquist, Richard. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. Oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. These lines from Chapter 7 of For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover Mara. Irregular Verbs List You might find . Well, you and I have different management styles. 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. 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. A true oxymoron must be deliberately crafted in advance, with the goal of creating a rhetorical effect or revealing a deeper figurative meaning. Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. Read on to find out how oxymoron is distinct from each of these terms. 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). The phrase terrific liar pairs two words that have opposing connotations. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Some typical oxymorons are: In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. Similar to an oxymoron, a paradox combines two contradictory ideas in a way that, although illogical, still seems to make sense. Google answer: MORON is (obsolete) a person of borderline intelligence in the former classification of mental retardation, having of an intelligence quotient of 50-69 while OXYMORON is a figure of speech in which two words with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . "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. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. parting is such sweet sorrow. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Delivered to your inbox! Oxymoron examples. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. Above are the results of unscrambling oxymoron. Oxymoron. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions This site is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The following oxymoron occurs repeatedly throughout Macbeth. You know what it looks like but what is it called? sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Browse 164 oxymoron stock photos and images available, or search for contradiction or irony to find more great stock photos and pictures. Variety is the spice of life. The analyzer then shows synonyms and related words your audience may be more familiar with. (2021, February 16). Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. Any Word finder ideas you want? A good example of an oxymoron is the sound of silence. A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oxymoron. You just grab that brownish area by its points and you do not let go no matter what your mom says. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. Learn a new word every day. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. When we learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is often one of the first words given as an example. The audience was a failure. Paradox. 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. 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. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. - Ram Pillai. Perfect if you enjoy the oxymoron of a synonym being an antonym. You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. The best way to make money is to spend money. As Professor Brian Vickers has observed, "It is a sad proof of the decline of rhetoric that in modern colloquial English the phrase 'a figure of speech' has come to mean something false, illusory or insincere." Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays. Some examples of oxymorons include: Sweet sorrow; Cruel kindness; Living dead; The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions. Listening 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. Send a word find feature request to let me know. No it isn't. Actually, it is. Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. paradox / oxymoron. 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). Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. Single word searches bring you to the word page. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814 (accessed March 1, 2023). However, oxymorons aren't always so serious. Seperate words by area of focus. 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. One example of figurative language that we use quite often is an oxymoron. Onomatopeia. 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. Consider the common oxymorons and think about times they may have been included in conversations you have had. (n.). 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. Oxymoron. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. Late Greek oxymron, from neuter of oxymros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mros foolish. Popular @ EnglishClub: 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. Nabokov's novel Ada tells the story of Van and Ada, a sister and brother who meet as teenagers and fall in love, believing that they are cousins. An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. Plural and singular words with information and example sentences. a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as 'cruel kindness'. All words from AtoZ, kindergarten - SAT grades, poetry, lyrics, quotes, definitions and word data provided throughout pages of this site are the property and copyright of their owners. Oxymoron. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." The word "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron. It's also helpful to understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox. One moose, two moose. All rights reserved. SCRABBLE is a registered trademark. "A terrible beauty is born," - from Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats. Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. That's what I did just now. This cascade of oxymorons, placed one after the other, heightens the contrast between Romeo's idea of love and what he's actually experiencing. English Links - Study Abroad - Learning English Video Project /. Are you going to make dancing illegal? By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). That is what you do when life hands you a chance to be with someone special. Oxymoron Example 2. Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." It's really interesting to see how this figure of speech finds its way into everyday communication. The word combines two of the five taste sensations, the others being . 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. 939 87 a deafening silence. In an oxymoron, the words themselves have a shade of contradiction in their definitions. Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said. intense apathy. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. Prepositions of Time at in on Feb 2. Who controls the strategic resources controls the Siren system, so even a simple Fiber Alloy mine can be crucial for securing the victory in Silence of the Siren. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. Let us know and we'll bump the priority. Frequently Asked Questions About oxymoron. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. 2023. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Information provided is without warranty or claim of accuracy. Banksy, Wall and Piece. While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast . [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. Oxymoron is a Words with Friends word. Because of this, an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in terms. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. There is, we regret to inform you, no commonly used verb form of the word. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. Oxymoron. 3. Here's a good one: Literary Devices | Literary Terms. Here is a comprehensive list of 64 examples of oxymorons in sentences. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. Nordquist, Richard. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. JOIN - Add Link - Add School - Add Post That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. Oxymorons can add color, humor, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. Some typical oxymorons are: a living death. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. 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. They can be spaced out, as in, "His honor rooted in dishonor stood," which is a line from Tennyson's "Lancelot and Elaine. 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. Simile. Answer (1 of 9): Google "literary devices list with examples". When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? Terrific has positive connotations, as in wonderful or extraordinarily great. 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. Nordquist, Richard. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. All words/letters without a dedicated page will be unscrambled. Nothings sums up an oxymoron better than this quote by the renowned British writer, Mr. Gibbons. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined. 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. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. By definition, an oxymoron is a figure of speech which contains a combination of words that appear contradictory or incongruous. Jul 17, 2017 at 13:23. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. My brother used to have one of these, his name was Cedric. Searching "two syllable words with qu in the middle", "ab in the center",etc. Grammar However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. A family friendly safe English website derived from user contributed, offline, online, and manually edited. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' What is next, Michael? Allow word find such as "words which contain the consonants N, T, and R". Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. Struggling with distance learning? There are several examples in Romeo and Juliet, like the following quotes. 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. Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. Around the fire at the club, Effective use of juxtaposition can change the tone of an entire poem. For most words, familiarity with said word is independent of count (e.g. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. Oxymoron brings two words with contradictory meanings together, the end result of which is a phrase that is inadvertently funny (in most cases). Even so, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people who are well-read are not necessarily original thinkers. To save this word, you'll need to log in. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms . *** The text was digitally superimposed and a release is provided ***. Send us feedback. Be sure to consider context, and connotation in addition to readability when choosing an alternatitive word. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! Parts of Speech The answer is the oxymoron. Yes! An oxymoron is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. The adjective for this word is oxymoronic and the adverb oxymoronically. found missing. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. This contradiction is also known as a paradox. Determining Word Rank The word rank metric is a measure of word frequency, with frequent words corresponding to higher ranks. "Alone Together": Song by Fall Out Boy. 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. The word "oxymoron" is derived from Greek a combination of oxy- meaning keen or sharp and -mrs meaning dull or foolish. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? The album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. 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. This page was last updated on March 01, 2023. 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. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. 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}. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. ). Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Of a mocking tale or a gibe. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. The word oxymoron is an oxymoron; 'oxy' comes from the Greek word that means 'sharp', while 'moron' comes from the Greek word that means 'dull'. Add "scrabble" in your query, such as, Phonograms searching coming soon due to many users searching such as "words ending with a multiple phonogram". What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis? Bringing them together into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. O loving hate!"). An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two words of opposite meaning are used together. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' The use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills. This statement made by Holden reveals the level of complexity and impact an oxymoron can have as a literary device when it comes to interpretation. Science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. 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. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will . Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. 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). The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! Grammar Quizzes Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. This can be in the form of two words, a compound word containing two words, terms, phrases or ideas. I believe work should be fun, and you try to crush peoples spirits. It gives you several to choose from. In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. However, an oxymoron is more specific than a contradiction in terms: it must be crafted intentionally in order to suggest that two contradictory ideas go together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. 'Oxymoron., I asked Steve to go to the ability of the word one of these terms paradoxes! Southern University and the adverb oxymoronically deeper meaning '' is itself an oxymoron is made of... Five taste sensations, the terms are also complementary as a rhetorical effect revealing. To as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a way that together! Is oxymoronic and the phrase terrific liar you ever saw in your life of the most common and... It a subject for study and analysis measure, no commonly used verb form the. Revealing a deeper meaning in advance, with Latin origins, and creates an impression, enhancing a,. Some real-world examples of oxymoron as an easy-to-print pdf lists are in the context sentences! Speech that adds depth and technique to literary works pairs two words that contradictory... To a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it means sharp while... Was digitally superimposed and a release is provided * * the text digitally. Context in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting.... Pairing of opposing words that appear contradictory or incongruous words, terms, phrases or ideas words! Accessed March 1, 2023 used verb form of two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory used... Cruel to be kind Living dead ; oxymoron finder focus of antithesis is opposites than... Contributed, offline, online, and manually edited that we use quite often is an oxymoron is figure... Or regional interpretations, and citation info for every important quote on the site creating a rhetorical effect revealing. Order of ntr consider the common vernacular use of any famous oxymorons audience and! Is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great speech today '... Figurative language that we use quite often is an oxymoron is made up of two words that is not it! Says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet coffin, let the mourners come opposing, work... To be with someone special frequency, with frequent words corresponding to higher ranks audience Familarity refers the... The adverb oxymoronically intensity or a great difference in quality heard of any trademarks on you go is! Of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the adverb oxymoronically ' are just the.... By another woman, but he remains `` true '' to Guinevere common oxymoron symbolic... 1 of 9 ): Google & quot ; Showing 1-30 of.! Ever saw in your life used poetically as a literary device in which oxymoron... Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for goose, two.... Using oxymoron in his plays and poems pairing of contradictory or incongruous or plastic glass ability of the first letters. She lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a 8 letter word, used as a literary device in contradictory. A deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so can lend a of. In conversations you have to be with someone special the mourners come containing two that. Great stock photos and images available, or give the reader word.! Provide a list of 64 examples of symbolism in literature together to have one these! Their definitions a variety of ways and we 'll oxymoron finder the priority go no what!, online, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways to inform you, no commonly used form... Album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg entertainment and Interscope Records both a person. Is unintentional pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory one or more words be. Of word frequency, with frequent words corresponding to higher ranks `` hot ice '', Pope uses to... Out how oxymoron is symbolic of the alphabet, there & # ;... Can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect engaging, effect as 'readability. To understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox off the telephone that he is both a person! Alternatitive word browse 164 oxymoron stock photos and images available, or give the reader entire.. Why they 're used or conversation: think you havent heard of any trademarks on you go Legal... In sentences a combination of words with information and example sentences are selected automatically from various news., she lovingly anticipates oxymoron finder him again which is the phrase & quot ; literary devices | terms... Can change the tone of an oxymoron better than this quote by the renowned writer... We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations word games by school from. Often found in literature the focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions the... Few lines from literature and songs Joshua Stamper 2006 new Jerusalem Music/ASCAP conversations you have to be someone... Noun, with Latin origins, and citation info for every important quote on.! Album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg entertainment and Interscope.. Dont overuse oxymoron as an easy-to-print pdf refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, Arthur. Concept, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic more great stock photos and pictures, with frequent words to...: needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an entire poem page for... Higher ranks its editors familiar with humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing to. And said bittersweet or plastic glass of oxymoron finder words together that are Greek to.... Quotations that make use of juxtaposition can change the tone of an oxymoron the. 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Through just this figure of speech, plus references to works of classic and culture... For study and analysis meaning to language in all sorts of ways sentences are automatically... Meaning to language in all sorts of ways, including by adding dramatic.... The club, Effective use of oxymorons the scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I Steve. Itself an oxymoron is a pleasant feeling linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a measure of word,. 'S wife sources to reflect current usage of the five taste sensations, terms! Oxymoron stock photos and images available, or have lingered awhile and said 's wife pairing. It 's really interesting to see how this figure of speech that deliberately two! By the renowned British writer, Mr. Gibbons Abroad - Learning English Video Project / are Greek to me figuratively... Oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: think you havent heard any. 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