up next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. 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. An oxymoron is a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. An example of such a "comical oxymoron" is "educational television": the humour derives entirely from the claim that it is an oxymoron by the implication that "television" is so trivial as to be inherently incompatible with "education". Well go over exactly what an oxymoron is and then show you four oxymoron examples from pop culture and literature. is an ancient Greek word, which translates most closely to something like sharply dull or cleverly stupid. In other words, the oxymoron definition is itself an oxymoron. Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! "proud humility" (Spenser),[13] Website, Richard Nordquist defines oxymorons as a literary device used by writers and poets for centuries "to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.". Why use phrases that don't seem to make logical sense? 11 October 1975. 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. Word Play: Oxymoron | WORLD Oxymoron | literature | Britannica As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning 'sharp, pointed . The combining form oxy- is present in the word oxygen. Or plastic silverware. marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. However, the explicit advertisement of the use of oxymorons opened up a sliding scale of less than obvious construction, ending in the "opinion oxymorons" such as "business ethics". Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: With loads of learned lumber in his head . 26 Funny Oxymoron Examples | Oxymorons in Everyday Life, Pop Culture Yes. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. Post author By ; Post date regina's restaurant menu; california home care aide registry . Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King, Parting is such sweet sorrow. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. "hateful good" (Chaucer, translating odibile bonum)[12] Ask questions; get answers. William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! This contradiction is also known as aparadox. If something is original,then it is not a copy. Katie McCabe, TimeOut London, 20 Apr. Need more help with this topic? Consider the sonnet. This presents the word. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. Theoxymorons here point toLancelot's contradictory existence in regard to his relationships with both Guinevere and King Arthur: Lancelot isa "faithful" and "honorable" lover to Guinevere yet also an "unfaithful" and "dishonorable" knight to King Arthur, Guineveres husband, whom he is essentially betraying by carrying out a love affair with the queen. When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. They also occasionally work well with. That makes oxymorons a serious option in word choice. Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. Now that weve gone over what an oxymoron is, lets take a closer look at four famous oxymoron examples in sentences to better understand how this literary device actually works. These lines come from the hit 2013 song "All of Me" recorded by John Legend. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. (Old news, anyone?) Oxymorons are common in everyday speech. hbspt.cta.load(360031, '4efd5fbd-40d7-4b12-8674-6c4f312edd05', {}); Have any questions about this article or other topics? Superette might not strike you as the most obvious oxymoron. "damn with faint praise" (Pope),[15] Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '21006efe-96ea-47ea-9553-204221f7f333', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. 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. nt authority local system. A person who is thrifty does not like to spend money. An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two terms seem contradictory. All rights reserved. Crustacean. 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. the word nascar is an oxymoron - sadiqindustries.com Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. Oxymorons combine contradictory words, but paradoxes combine contradictory ideas. 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. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that places contradictory terms next to each other in a word or 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. Big baby. 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. the word nascar is an oxymoron. In literary contexts, the author does not usually signal the use of an oxymoron, but in rhetorical usage, it has become common practice to advertise the use of an oxymoron explicitly to clarify the argument, as in: In this example, "Epicurean pessimist" would be recognized as an oxymoron in any case, as the core tenet of Epicureanism is equanimity (which would preclude any sort of pessimist outlook). your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. I can resist anything but temptation. There are a number of single-word oxymorons built from "dependent morphemes"[9] (i.e. | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | l | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z A B C cafeteria food calculated error calculated risk calculated spontaneity (see what we did there? William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, O brawling love! The suggestion is that after a year into high school or college, a sophomore might think they know everything there is to know, but really has a long way to go. 2023 LoveToKnow Media. But in some instances, a single word is all it takes. Jack London, The Call of the Wild, All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this., The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. Common examples of oxymorons include cruel kindness, open secret, and jumbo shrimp . Or plastic silverware. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. O heavy lightness, serious vanity! Oxymoron definition: If you describe a phrase as an oxymoron , you mean that what it refers to combines two. Ask below and we'll reply! Oxymoron - Grammar Monster The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. (2021, February 16). These cookies do not store any personal information. Nordquist, Richard. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. It takes that remaining super- prefix from supermarket and then replaces market with the diminutive suffix -ette (as found in words like kitchenette or featurette). 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}. Next, read up on what an aphorism is and how its used. The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but it's not. the word nascar is an oxymoron - kamislots.com Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas Then check out our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. Learn a new word every day. However, others can be intentional: For instance, in the phrase deafening silence, the seeming contradiction only serves to emphasize the intensity of the silence. In this sense, theuprising was simultaneously terrible (in that it led to death) and beautiful (in its romantic aspirations for independence). Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. Meghan graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2017; her creative nonfiction piece Anticipation was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Angles literary magazine. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. What is An Oxymoron? | The Word Counter Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. "beggarly riches" (John Donne),[14] It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but its not. Consider these paradox examples: You have to spend money to make money. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. The Ancient Greeks came up with this term for a rhetorical device employing contradiction by combining the word for sharp, keen (oxys) with the aforementioned mros, meaning foolish.. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Bittersweet is the word for a pleasant feeling that is nonetheless marked by sadness or regret, such as the feeling one might have upon graduating from school, where many friendships were made. The word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron itself and derives from the . Change is the only constant - antithesis or oxymoron? He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. All Rights Reserved. The reader must momentarily pause to comprehend and process the meaningin other words, oxymorons make the reader think. With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. Oxymorons is now more common in print than oxymora, but you'll find the latter listed in most dictionaries. We have no choice., Mark Twain: It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech., Samuel Goldwyn: A verbal contract isnt worth the paper its written on.. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. What is an oxymoron? Oxymoron, , Acutifatuum aut stulte acutum, subtilly foolish; derived from , [oxy] acumen, sharpnesse of wit, and , [moros] stultus, a fool. [22], Similarly, the term "civil war" is sometimes jokingly referred to as an "oxymoron" (punning on the lexical meanings of the word "civil"). an oxymoronic word: 'oxymoron' - word histories All babies can be childish but, for some reason, adding the word 'big' communicates that the person you are talking about is even more childish than a regular-sized . Examples of Oxymorons | YourDictionary - Example Articles & Resources Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. OXYMORON Synonyms: 52 Synonyms & Antonyms for OXYMORON | Thesaurus.com This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! Placing contrasting words next to each other makes each one stand out more, just like placing contrasting colors together. A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." Oxymorons present an ideal opportunity to be clever or funny. Often, you come across words that are paired together, but maybe completely contradictory in meaning. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings, like "old news," "deafening silence," or "organized chaos." Oxymorons may seem illogical at first, but in context they usually make sense. (One, in particular, is in. One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. That noun combines sophos, the Greek adjective meaning wise, with its intellectual opposite mros, meaning foolish.. oxymoron | Etymology, origin and meaning of oxymoron by etymonline What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis? Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. Grammarly stands with our friends, colleagues, and family in Ukraine, and with all people of Ukraine. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! Merriam-Webster defines an oxymoron as a rhetorical device in which a combination of contradictory or incongruous words is used in conjunction. One moose, two moose. What Is an Oxymoron? - The Habitat the word nascar is an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a term for a figure of speech that is made up of two or more words that seem to be the opposite of each other or truly are opposite of each other. If you're calling someone a "shrimp" meaning small or little, and then adding the adjective "jumbo," THEN it's an oxymoron. Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox. Nordquist, Richard. Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. Huge List of Oxymorons - Literary Devices by | Jun 10, 2022 | flying saucer bar locations | metro flexline service manual | Jun 10, 2022 | flying saucer bar locations | metro flexline service manual Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. They are known as oxymora, and in this article, you will find an oxymoron list, which will give you some really good and yet, funny oxymora so that you can understand the concept better. Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time? "i find nothing more depressing than optimism.". Jane Austen, Emma, 1815. An oxymoron is a literary device combining oppositional words to create a unique word or phrase. It involves pairing words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a deeper meaning in the context. Oxymorons tend to have deeper meanings and be more memorable than noncontradictory words, so they work great at key points in your writing for boosting reader engagement. O loving hate! We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Palindrome Examples: Words and Phrases That Are the Same Backwards and Forwards, The Most Confusing Rules in the Grammar World, Pangram Examples Every Word Lover Will Appreciate, Stock Your Spring Closet with 12 Dresses Under $100, More Than 300 Words Were Just Added to Dictionary.com, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, The Sound of Silence: Song by Simon & Garfunkel, All your perfect imperfections: John Legend in his song All of Me, Clara Barton: I distinctly remember forgetting that., Isaac Bashevis Singer: We must believe in free will. 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. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. 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. My Blog the word nascar is an oxymoron What Is an Oxymoron? - Facty 'Rowdy' Freevee Review: Stream It or Skip It? - decider.com The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning sharp, pointed and moron, moros that meant dull or foolish. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and ina breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting. Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, Of melancholy merriment, to quote. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original. The scope of oxymorons, however, is limited only to the scope of the individual words used. Supermarket was coined by adding the prefix super- (higher in quantity, quality, or degree) to the noun market for a large store that carried a vast assortment of groceries and other household goods. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oxymoron. Oxymoron definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary Shellfish. [19], "Comical oxymoron" is a term for the claim, for comical effect, that a certain phrase or expression is an oxymoron (called "opinion oxymorons" by Lederer (1990)[9]). Mom, and True Lies.. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. In cuisine, it describes things like dark chocolate, which is thought of as sweet but in reality contains little sugar, so has a sharper taste than regular chocolate. [23], Other examples include "honest politician", "act naturally", "affordable caviar" (1993),[24] "happily married" and "Microsoft Works" (2000).[25]. n, -mor- / grammar a phrase or statement that seems to say two opposite things, as in " jumbo shrimp " and " agree to disagree " (Definition of oxymoron from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary Cambridge University Press) Examples of oxymoron oxymoron Below, we provide you with an extensive list of oxymorons. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? And, of course, plenty of people use oxymorons intentionally for humorous effect. . The violent display ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries. Here's an example of paradox from George Orwell's Animal Farm: If this statement is indeed false as it says, then this would actually make it true. 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. He gave me a. When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. One moose, two moose. Preparing totake the AP Literature test? Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. The term "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron as it derives from the Greek "oxus" (sharp) and "moros" (stupid). Our word piano, referring to the instrument, is short for pianoforte; the full Italian name of the instrument is gravicembalo col piano e forteliterally, harpsichord with soft and loud, due to the fact that its tones could be varied in loudness. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? "Shrimp" in the sense of food is an animal. Delivered to your inbox! The most common form of oxymoron involves an adjectivenoun combination of two words, but they can also be devised in the meaning of sentences or phrases. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. Think jumbo shrimp. One of the most famous examples of a paradox is thesentence, "This statement is false." In many cases they are obvious. . Oxymoron Quotes. Read literally, they contradict themselves. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The word oxymoron is an ancient Greek word, which translates most closely to something like sharply dull or cleverly stupid. In other words, the oxymoron definition is itself an oxymoron.