Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! The phrase terrific liar pairs two words that have opposing connotations. Why use phrases that don't seem to make logical sense? Oxymorons are often confused with paradoxesafter all, both are textbook contradictions of terms. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. Here are some of our favorite oxymoron examples. "Shrimp" in the sense of food is an animal. Paul Fussell. See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. The Latin praeposterus literally means in the wrong order. The prefix prae- means in front of, before, and posterus means following or behind (as in posterior). If this statement is indeed false as it says, then this would actually make it true. 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. Two involve the palindrome, two involve the oxymoron, and one involves onomatopoeia. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. In this scene, Juliet utters the phrase "sweet sorrow" to describe the feeling she has when having to say goodbye to Romeo. It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but it's not. Then check out our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. [20] Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, Of melancholy merriment, to quote. Awfully good, bittersweet, same difference, and original copy are a few oxymoron examples. Discussed by L. Coltheart in Moira Gatens, "This opened up an oxymoron too dreadful to contemplate: affordable caviar" (, Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 22:29, Word Ways: The Journal of Recreational Linguistics, http://snltranscripts.jt.org/75/75acarlin2.phtml, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Oxymoron&oldid=1140812370, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 22:29. Check out the oxymoron definition. Check out Tutorbase! An oxymoron is a term in which two contradictory terms are combined. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. 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 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, You might say that they juxtapose each other, which means, when placed close together, they create an. the word nascar is an oxymoron. Oxymorons are common in everyday speech. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. Season 1, Episode 1. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. There are plenty more to be discovered! We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. You mightve heard of another literary device called the paradox, which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron. "hateful good" (Chaucer, translating odibile bonum)[12] An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. 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. 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. Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. Banksy, Wall and Piece. ThoughtCo. What are examples of oxymoron? Oxymoron is an effective literary device. Below, we provide you with an extensive list of oxymorons. Oxymoron Quotes. Ask questions; get answers. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. A spendthrift, thereore, is a person who foolishly squanders those savings. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. 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 1481-82). As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. We already gave an oxymoron definition above, so here lets talk about paradoxes. Consider the oxymoron example deafening silence. Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' Or plastic silverware. They also occasionally work well with. (One, in particular, is in. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Oxymoron is a word that describes an expression of two contradictory thoughts, words, or phrases. Feel free to look throughthis vast list of oxymoron examplesif youre in need of an oxymoron for something you're writing or if you simply want tolearn some of the most commonones. 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. Rowdy, a new documentary on Amazon Freevee, tells the story of NASCAR driver Kyle Busch's life and career, largely focused on his chase for the 2015 Cup Series Championship. 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. However, if there is no figurative or underlying meaning to the phrase, it shouldnt be used as a proper oxymoron. If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. Oxymoron of the Day Favorite Oxymoron Terms Calm Storm (Science) Casual Chic (Fashion) Cat fish (Science) Chili (Food) Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. (Hence you might buy vintage clothing for cheap at a thrift store.) Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. Despite the "terrible" things that happened and the many lives lost, Yeats uses the term "beauty" to bring attention to the positive ideals of independence that gained ground as a result of this event:thisdesire for self-government is what spurred the Irish War of Independence just a few years later. One moose, two moose. [22], Similarly, the term "civil war" is sometimes jokingly referred to as an "oxymoron" (punning on the lexical meanings of the word "civil"). In other words, oxymorons are contradictive words or phrases used intentionally to create an effect. Indeed, oxymorons are often used to make fun of an idea, person, or . With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. It may seem illogical or unrealistic, but, upon reflection, its based in reality and stems from valid reasoning. Lord Byron, Don Juan: Canto VIII, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, The term "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron as it derives from the Greek "oxus" (sharp) and "moros" (stupid). Who Are The Most Romantic Literary Figures of All Time? 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. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. "melancholy merriment" (Byron), You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs. marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. josh brener commercial. The Greek expression "to oxymoron" refers, literally, to the "acutely mad". 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}. However, others can be intentional: For instance, in the phrase deafening silence, the seeming contradiction only serves to emphasize the intensity of the silence. It starts with super, which it gets from supermarket. Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. The term chiaroscuro, used in Renaissance painting, refers to the transition from light to shadow across an object (such as a muscled arm) to create the perception of depth. And, of course, plenty of people use oxymorons intentionally for humorous effect. One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More | Merriam-Webster Est. Website, Richard Nordquist defines oxymorons as a literary device used by writers and poets for centuries "to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.". You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. "i find nothing more depressing than optimism.". Think jumbo shrimp. Check out the funniest accidental, and intentional, malapropism examples as well. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp'
But if the statement is true, then it cant be false, despite the fact it claims to be! If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both oxymorons and oxymora are correct.
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