Like a paradox, an oxymoron is whats known as a contradiction in terms, although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples "conventionally unconventional", "tortuous spontaneity" (Henry James)[17] juni 14, 2022; Posted by synology broadcast storm; 14 . The scope of a paradox can go much deeper, drawing on complicated themes and philosophical concepts. These 50+ oxymoron examples are listed alphabetically and arranged by category (i.e., the type of oxymoron word combination). Why do we use oxymorons? - Wylie Communications, Inc. It is also comedic in terms of behavior, both in terms of a man acting like a child or a child behaving like a man.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_15',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_16',131,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-large-mobile-banner-1-0_1');.large-mobile-banner-1-multi-131{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. One classic example of the use of oxymorons in English literature can be found in this example from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo strings together thirteen in a row: O brawling love! Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. If you're calling someone a "shrimp" meaning small or little, and then adding the adjective "jumbo," THEN it's an oxymoron. Oxymoron Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster 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. Learn all about effective imageryandwhat personification is with our expert guides. My play was a complete success. What Is an Oxymoron? - Facty What is an Oxymoron? || Definition & Examples | | College of Liberal 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. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". 2023 LoveToKnow Media. [11], Other examples from English-language literature include: Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! All rights reserved. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. This means that oxymoron is a figure of speech that includes just a couple of contradictory words that are paired together rather than a full statement of ideas. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions The best oxymorons emphasize contrasts, incongruities or the complex nature of reality. Your writing, at its best "[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). Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Copyright Penlighten & Buzzle.com, Inc. When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. An oxymoron is usually just two words (sometimes one, as in bittersweet), but a paradox is an entire statement, usually a standalone sentence or even a full, What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?, A Guide to Using Plain Language in Writing. This presents the word. Consider the sonnet. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression: insertListLink('Huge List of Oxymoron Examples', 2, 2, 'shortexamples'). When we learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is often one of the first words given as an example. Learn a new word every day. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. O anything of nothing first create! 1828 Words at Play Internal Conflict: The One-Word Oxymoron When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. Oxymoron Quotes (30 quotes) - Goodreads oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. Or plastic silverware. They're not always small, and the word doesn't mean small in this sense. 'Rowdy' Freevee Review: Stream It or Skip It? - decider.com Paul Fussell. So how did we arrive at spendthrift for a word for someone who spends money wastefully? oxymoron (n.) in rhetoric, "a figure conjoining words or terms apparently contradictory so as to give point to the statement or expression," 1650s, from Greek oxymron, noun use of neuter of oxymros (adj.) Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. 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. Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: With loads of learned lumber in his head . An oxymoron is a consecutive set of words that have contradictory meanings. Oxymorons have been used for millennia. As rhetorical devices, oxymorons have been used in many different mediums from political speeches to novels to stage plays. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Oxymoron - Examples and Definition of Oxymoron - Literary Devices and When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. 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). 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! And then an interesting thing happens with superette. It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but it's not. The term "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron as it derives from the Greek "oxus" (sharp) and "moros" (stupid). William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, O brawling love! The lyrics of this powerful piano ballad make use of several oxymorons. "with the hinder part before", compare hysteron proteron, "upside-down", "head over heels", "ass-backwards" etc. 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? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. RELATED: Palindrome Examples: Words and Phrases That Are the Same Backwards and Forwards, RELATED: The Most Confusing Rules in the Grammar World, RELATED:The Best-Ever Hyperbole Examples, RELATED: Pangram Examples Every Word Lover Will Appreciate. Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." According to Wills, Buckley has "poisoned the general currency" of the word oxymoron by using it as just a "fancier word for 'contradiction'", when he said that "an intelligent liberal is an oxymoron". "beggarly riches" (John Donne),[14] Sophomore is the term for a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. 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_13',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_14',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}. 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. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above. Are you Nobody too? (, Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. (, Vidia was complicated, two fairies in one, a loyal traitor. (Gail Carson Levine). Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons - ThoughtCo Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Oxymoron Lesson for Kids: Definition & Examples - Study.com It may seem illogical or unrealistic, but, upon reflection, its based in reality and stems from valid reasoning. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! in a unique way thats particularly expressive. the word nascar is an oxymoron - touripedia.eu A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. Katie McCabe, TimeOut London, 20 Apr. Think jumbo shrimp. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. The word follows an earlier obsolete noun dingthrift, with ding meaning to deal blows to, knock down, or beat., We couldnt have a list of oxymorons without mentioning oxymoron itself. nt authority local system. 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. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples, Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech). Seriously Funny: a Celebration of the Oxymoron - Crozet Gazette For example, if a character receives apainful smile,this creates a significant dramatic effect. There are a number of single-word oxymorons built from "dependent morphemes"[9] (i.e. Awfully good, bittersweet, same difference, and original copy are a few oxymoron examples. the word nascar is an oxymoron - quickfundinggroup.com O loving hate!"). So elements that mean great and small combine to form a noun for a place to pick up your provisions. the word nascar is an oxymoronhow to check how many warnings you have on roblox. the word nascar is an oxymoron. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. One moose, two moose. However, you may come across many such examples that need verbal interpretations and deep understanding. 11 October 1975. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. 'when they are silent, they cry out'), However, others can be intentional: For instance, in the phrase deafening silence, the seeming contradiction only serves to emphasize the intensity of the silence. There is, we regret to inform you, no commonly used verb form of the word. "hateful good" (Chaucer, translating odibile bonum)[12] 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. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeare's line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! A Huge List of Oxymorons to Help You Understand the Concept Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? That makes oxymorons a serious option in, is fairly neutralit can be calm or tense, depending on the context. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. What is an Oxymoron? Definition, Examples of Oxymoron in Literature Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox. Its a somewhat regional word for a small convenience-type grocery store, often used in business names (Carsons Superette). [1][2] A general meaning of "contradiction in terms" is recorded by the 1902 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. 4 Answers. An oxymoron is an opposition between a term and the qualification that is given it, or between two qualities attributed to a single term, or between the simultaneous denial and assertion of the same fact or concept. pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. The humour derives from implying that an assumption (which might otherwise be expected to be controversial or at least non-evident) is so obvious as to be part of the lexicon. An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. Easy Examples of Oxymorons Act naturally 26 Funny Oxymoron Examples | Oxymorons in Everyday Life, Pop Culture The plural of "oxymoron" is "oxymorons" or "oxymora," but "oxymorons" is far more popular [ evidence ]. 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. 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. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. It was featured notably by Leonardo da Vinci in such works as The Adoration of the Magi (ca. A spendthrift, thereore, is a person who foolishly squanders those savings. . The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning 'sharp, pointed . As rhetorical devices, oxymorons have been used in many different mediums from political speeches to novels to stage plays. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. The pairing, while apparently paradoxical . You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. You might say that they juxtapose each other, which means, when placed close together, they create an. Like. Yes! Nordquist, Richard. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. The reader must momentarily pause to comprehend and process the meaningin other words, oxymorons make the reader think. 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. "pointedly foolish," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (from PIE root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce") + mros "stupid" (see moron ). Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. oxymoron: 1 n conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence') Type of: figure , figure of speech , image , trope language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense Change is the only constant - antithesis or oxymoron?
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