As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two terms seem contradictory. paper towel, Conservative Democrat, Pop Punk, Silent Drums, CNN News, 2019/2020 Bipartisan President Impeachment, Soft Rock, Educated Guess, Honest Politician, Snops Fact Checking, Weather Forecast. An oxymoron is a phrase that seems to use contradictory terms to express a particular thought or sentiment. And To Chris: lol Love it! You might’ve heard of another literary device called the paradox, which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron. Rhetorical oxymora (e.g., “ bipartisan cooperation ” or “ business ethics “), on the other hand, are expressions composed of words that are not inherently mutually exclusive but express an opinion that the two cannot occur together, usually for satirical intent. To Peppa: Nailed it!-BITTER SWEET: PLASTIC SILVERWARE: PAPER TOWEL: NEGATIVE INCOME and LEAD BALLOON. BURN-UP vs BURN-DOWN Oftentimes, emotions are best expressed this way. ✓: NEW AGE ::CASH FLOW (cynical) Therefore, the language itself is not literal, but figurative. - Alfred Tennyson, "Modern dancing is so old fashioned." These terms express a particular sentiment that is best communicated through opposites. For example, the term “bittersweet” is an oxymoron. Proofreading Quiz: What’s Your Harry Potter Proofreading Personality? Lead Balloon ", "Always be sincere, even when you don't mean it. :: POWER OUTAGE:: Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." Most of the times, we use this concept without actually realizing its existence. An oxymoron is generally only two terms in length. The other two oxymorons emphasize the fact that no matter what happens—for example, no matter how sad or defeated the speaker might feel—there will always be a silver lining in that he's with the love of his life. These 50+ oxymoron examples are listed alphabetically and arranged by category (i.e., the type of oxymoron word combination). We’ll go over exactly what an oxymoron is and then show you four oxymoron examples from pop culture and literature. One oxymoron example is "deafening silence," which describes a silence that is so overpowering it almost feels deafening, or extremely loud—just as an actual sound would. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. This next oxymoron example is about Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot's tragic love affair. How can something so small be called “jumbo?” This is an oxymoron. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. An oxymoron is paradoxical in nature but is a figure of speech rather than a situation or event. - Samuel Goldwyn, "A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business." "I can resist anything, except temptation. However, irrespective of their usage, oxymorons can add humour to serious conversations. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! What is an Oxymoron? The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. - Edna St. Vincent Millay, "I generally advise persons never ever to present assistance." Define oxymoron: the definition of oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses contradictory terms. To separate the two, consider that a paradox is an event or a situation and an oxymoron is a figure of speech. Rather, an oxymoron is a cool literary device you can use in your creative writing. 64 Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences June 27, 2012 by Vappingo Oxymorons are figures of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined in order to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. ", "If I could drop dead right now, I'd be the happiest man alive. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. By definition, the word “shrimp” refers to something very small. Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! BIG BOY & LITTLE MAN (WWII bomb) :: SMART BLONDE You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. Have any questions about this article or other topics? What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. WALKING DEAD Without doubt the Moor’s Murderers were ‘pure evil’. Examples of Funny Oxymoron Quotes. Here’s an example of paradox from George Orwell’s Animal Farm: This is a paradox because, as a situation, these two events are contradictory. With the oxymoron use, the audience can feel and understand the gravity of Romeo’s difficulties. While an oxymoron is the combination of two contradictory/opposite words in a single sentence, a paradox is an entire phrase/sentence that appears contradictory but, upon further investigation, could be true or plausible. Let's see if any of these examples of oxymorons hit home for you: There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons.

Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples, Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech, Figures of Speech: The Apostrophe as a Literary Device, Definition and Examples of Parallel Structure, Figures of Speech: Definition and Examples, Definition and Examples of Dialectic in Rhetoric, High School Literature: The Trump Syllabus, Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech), 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. He spent the entire 30 minutes telling me what a good listener he was! ", "The best cure for insomnia is to get a lot of sleep. An oxymoron (AHX-ee-MORE-ahn), from the Greek for “pointedly foolish” or “dully sharp,” is a contradiction in terms.It seems illogical on its face, as the basic construction is word + antonymic (the opposite of that word) modifier; for example, minor crisis, as the former means “little or insignificant” while the latter can mean “emergency.” 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. He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. The main topic of this poem is the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, an event during which numerous Irish nationalists rebelled against the British government in Ireland. Wellbeing or Well-Being – Which is Correct? - P.G. 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. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. A “bookful blockhead” who is “ignorantly read” is a clear example of an oxymoron that uses humor to convey a given thought.You may also see informative speech. All Rights Reserved. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". The violent display ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries. Below, we provide you with an extensive list of oxymorons.

Read literally, they contradict themselves. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. Bringing them together into one phrase produces a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect. This incongruity can be accidental or deliberate, as in cases of humor. How to use oxymoron in a sentence. ", "The building was pretty ugly and a little big for its surroundings.". As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. It would be similar to “morally superior hiLIARy supporter”. The phrase original copy is a good illustration of an oxymoron.