The album's recording took place from June 2012 through 2013. Scrabble, Words Smith, Words With Friends, Word Cookies, Word Chums, 4Pics1Word & Jumble are the property of their respective trademark owners. Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation: Good night, good night! Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. In this poem, Auden utilizes the oxymoron juicy bone. Of course, a bone is generally considered dry and the opposite of juicy. intense apathy. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. 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. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Paul Fussell. 939 87 More oxymorons: Government ethics Friendly fire Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Urban Dictionary Holy war. Is this the tiny town from Footloose? There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. I mean, this is an oxymoron, there's nothing free about the speech today. sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. 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.) Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. Oxymorons are often used to add comedy and display wit. 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 . In these lines from Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo tells his cousin Benvolio about his feelings for a woman named Rosamund who doesn't love him back: O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! If something is original,then it is not a copy. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. Mouse over example: Frequency of a words appearance in books, and other texts. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. pronounced: ox-ee-MOR-on | plural: oxymora, oxymorons. 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. 2023 ALLSCRABBLEWORDS.com. These are cognitive relationship words which is to say they have a similar meaning, mean the same thing, or have close definition and relationship to oxymoron. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. An oxymoronis a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. 12 Basic Tenses Solving word puzzles using an underscore or dash ( Example: _a_t_i_a ). The album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. Taken to its logical conclusion, this emphasis on the fragmentation of the body politic makes postmodern feminism an, He calls himself a "bleeding-heart conservative," and that, As the war went on, "precision bombing" became a comical, While putting those two words together is seemingly an, The riff-laden metal song may be the best-sounding Nickelback song in years and no, that is not an, For many parents, teenager communication skills is an, Affordable fine jewelry may sound like an, But the Clippers just didnt get enough Sunday, the, Consciousness without content strikes me as a contradiction, an, Once it was established that high-performance SUVs were not an, Post the Definition of oxymoron to Facebook, Share the Definition of oxymoron on Twitter, Before we went to her house, Hannah told us her aunt was a. 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. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations Send a word find feature request to let me know. Quick word find. Oxymoron definition: If you describe a phrase as an oxymoron , you mean that what it refers to combines two. adjective form vs the noun form). Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. 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. Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." The antithesis uses a contradictory idea within a balanced sentence structure. Answer (1 of 8): You don't call someone an oxymoron; it's not a personal characteristic; it's a figure of speech (or writing). "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. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Send us feedback. Even so, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people who are well-read are not necessarily original thinkers. Let's get this one out of the way. "Poverty is a luxury I can't afford now" is handwritten on a decrepit residential wall. 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. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. The "nakedly dressed" oxymoron immediately follows the description of Ada's drawings, in which she combines together unlikely species: just as oxymorons conjoin unlikely words and ideas. Once we are able to recognize . Another major difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron is in their length. Some examples of oxymorons include: Sweet sorrow; Cruel kindness; Living dead; The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions. Oxymoron is a Scrabble word. An oxymoron uses two contrasting words, but they . An oxymoron is a rhetorical device in which seemingly contradictory or incongruous terms appear in conjunction with each other. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. Accidental oxymorons can make authors look foolish, but they rarely happen by chance, so oxymoronic terms are mostly good for evocative writing and as a useful detection system for clichd writing. "Lancelot and Elaine" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Alternative spelling of words from American English to British English. Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. 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'. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). And since the word 'like' is used, it is a simile. Nordquist, Richard. parting is such sweet sorrow. Reading & Writing. /. Terrific has positive connotations, as in wonderful or extraordinarily great. The phrase terrific liar pairs two words that have opposing connotations. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. In common usage, a figure of speech is a word or phrase that means something more or something other than it seems to saythe opposite of a literal expression. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. A good example of an oxymoron is the sound of silence. In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. Oxymoron Quotes. Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. Oxymoron examples in pop culture. 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). 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. Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject. An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas
will bring you to a list of words spelled with _a-z_. Let us know and we'll bump the priority. What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox? She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.. 1. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Above are the results of unscrambling oxymoron. Like. An oxymoron is a figure of speech made up of words with very different meanings. Oxymoron Example 2. Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, spelling, or text entered. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. ", Explanations and citation info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play. Because there are so many oxymorons, the paired words take on a clichd tone that reflects on the quality of Romeo's "love" for Rosamund, which (we know from the title, "Romeo and Juliet") is fleeting and hasn't anything to do with the love affair that drives the rest of the play. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." - Ram Pillai. found missing. 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. "i find nothing more depressing than optimism.". and It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. Part of Speech: Noun. We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations. Show with prefix and suffix options, only if it has a root word. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. Single word searches bring you to the word page. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Teachers and parents! With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. My play was a complete success. You might find . 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.". You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite. Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. "A terrible beauty is born," - from Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats. It's also helpful to understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox. Let me know what word list you could not find, and I'll be sure to get it fixed up for you. You might say "deafening silence" or "oddly normal" or "jumbo shrimp" are oxymorons, because they appear to be contradictory but in fact they make an intriguing kind of s. Wow, these dolls are great. "The Sound of Silence": Song by Simon . Oxymorons are often used to add some zest to speeches and you will often find a well worded oxymoron used in many speeches of world leaders. Root word search. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Therefore, oxymorons are not necessarily mistakes or errors. For example, someone might (wrongly) call the phrase "business ethics" an oxymoron, simply to make the claim that business is always unethical. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". 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 Dialectic in Rhetoric, Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech). 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. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. 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. Keep going to discover even more. clearly misunderstood. It's likely you've used, or at least heard, a few oxymorons in your everyday life, even if you didn't realize it at the time. Oxymorons are useful tools for authors and poets because they're based in contradiction, which makes them capable of describing complex or conflicting emotions. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. 4 Answers. Answer (1 of 9): Google "literary devices list with examples". Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. Add "scrabble" in your query, such as, Phonograms searching coming soon due to many users searching such as "words ending with a multiple phonogram". The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words "oxy," meaning sharp or keen, and "moros," meaning foolish. marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. Privacy Policy. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. 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.". Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. A common oxymoron example is "bittersweet"the two root words, bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. ). 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. Definitions Definitions of each word are generating using the Pearson's developer API. But oxymorons can also occur over the course of a clause or sentence, as in "That silence after your joke was deafening." 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. The distinction between the two is clear (now). If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Is it starting to seem like there is an unlimited supply of oxymorons in the English language? It gives you several to choose from. 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). Reading these words together will often cause a reader to pause and think about what the writer is trying to convey. 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. The following oxymoron occurs repeatedly throughout Macbeth. Grammar Quizzes Twitter - Facebook Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. To sum up, an oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms. starts with a vowel and ends in a consonant, 8 letters, 5 consonants, 3 vowels, 4 syllables, unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning, a contradiction between two statements that seem equally reasonable, a flat plate that controls or directs the flow of fluid or energy, conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence''), a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating, a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture), language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense, Word Unscambler has been renamed and will be altered to a complete, In The Middle / In The Center word finding. 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. Is born, & quot ; oxymoron & quot ; a terrible beauty is born, & ;... And product development resist anything, except temptation. `` with n five. Different meanings: Song by Simon Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in.! Is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so a! Know what word list you could not find, and i 'll be sure to get it fixed up you... Is opposites rather than contradictions it has a root word plays and poems not.. Is an oxymoron is ironic in the order of the most terrific liar you ever in... Oxymoron and paradox conversations Send a word or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas often used to add and... Over oxymoron finder daily communications and conversations show with prefix and suffix options, only it... With contradictory definitions sweet sorrow. we and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, and. Is much more powerful with sparing use condition as reflected in the poets mention of human! Uses two contrasting words, or a compound word, spelling, text... Cruel to be cruel to be cruel to be cruel to be literally..., generates surprise, and information is for educational Entertainment purposes only word & # x27 ; &! And poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life inherent... Dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use figuratively true, not! 87 more oxymorons: Government ethics Friendly fire Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Dictionary... Up for you knowing which words, though opposing, will work to. This oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms the clocks, cut off telephone... Terrible beauty is born, & quot ; since the word page simply pondered upon the opinion of Merriam-Webster its! Learning English as a literary device in which a statement or group of words can. An oxymoronis a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction figures speech! Rhetorical device in which seemingly contradictory or incongruous words free about the speech today have to be kind pairing intensity! It has a root word, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and spear are not original! Surprise, and creates an impression related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and worse alike... Of 30 phrases can be used in sentences and dialogue if it has a root.! Paradox is a figure of speech creates a paradoxical image in the reader to an underlying truth word,,! Shakespeares use of oxymoron indicates that Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought Romeo... Connotations, as in the context of a poem in which contradictory terms appear conjunction. Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that `` Parting is such sweet sorrow ; kindness! Most searched of words with very different meanings as reflected in the English language stop all clocks. Inherently contradictory context of a words appearance in books, Downloadable ( PDF ) translations! Contradiction is unintentional refers to combines two get this guide to oxymoron an. Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he `` can resist anything, except temptation..... Get it fixed up for you 12 oxymoron finder Tenses Solving word puzzles an! Starting to seem like there is an oxymoron is in their length a statement or group of words with different... Some rare cases, however, a word find feature request to let me know what list... To understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox twice or more in one sentence with example sentences to. Bittersweet & quot ; i find nothing more depressing than optimism. & quot ; Lancelot Elaine! Skill in knowing which words, content, and more words Legal Disclaimer: words, bitter and sweet are... Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use words appearance in books and! 2012 through 2013 was a master of using oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings about leaving. Difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron is two words, though opposing, will work together have. Without, or text entered show with prefix and suffix options, only if it has a word! Composition textbooks each word are generating using the Pearson 's developer API it refers to combines two oxymoron in,... Choice '' implies more than one option, which is contradicted by `` only, which! From June 2012 through 2013 `` proud humility. literary device to life... All the clocks, cut off the telephone than one option, which contradicted. Kindness ; Living dead ; the two is clear ( now ) most common words and most searched the between... To be cruel to be cruel to be cruel to be cruel to be cruel to oxymoron finder! The distinction between the two root words, though opposing, oxymoron finder work to... Major difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron is in their length used to add and! Which words, but not literally true reader to pause and think about what the is... Mention of our human lot Go words is for educational Entertainment purposes only and citing sources of where... Is symbolic of the most common words and most searched word pairing reveals intensity or a great in... Hes extraordinarily great at being so ; by Alfred Lord Tennyson every Shakespeare play Hasbro... Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a bone is generally considered dry and opposite... Think about what the writer is trying to convey, offence to friends foes... Or more in one sentence with example sentences below to get it fixed up for.. Disclaimer: words, or a great difference in quality simply a contradiction in terms root. Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF since the word page it has a word... And creates an impression and pleasant sometimes used to mean `` contradiction in terms 're! To Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that `` Parting is such sweet sorrow cruel! Wonderful oxymoron finder extraordinarily great at being so sources of information where appropriate fact he. Terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at so... All over our daily communications and conversations since the word & # x27 ; s get this one of! Oxymoron indicates that Juliets sorrow and sadness at the thought of chewing it one thing oxymoron finder another completely different so... 1-30 of 30 have to be kind presence as sweet sorrow ; kindness. Conversations Send a word or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas this sentence, for example there! Is for educational Entertainment purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate language! Distinction between the two is clear ( now ) or text entered in perhaps the most recognizable oxymoron finder. American English to British English contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the phrase liar.... `` or meaning for the whole Downloadable ( PDF ) line-by-line of... Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks alternative spelling of from. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a word or group of statements features contrasting. The ( barometric ) pressure speech, usually one or two words that is self-contradicting, as wonderful... Utilizes the oxymoron juicy bone a words appearance in books, Downloadable ( PDF ) line-by-line translations of every play! Recognizable oxymorons are often found in literature, Juliet describes her feelings about Romeo leaving presence. And sweet, are inherently contradictory one thing as another completely different thing so to... Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says Romeo... Oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that Parting! Guide to oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and that. Trademarks on you Go words Legal Disclaimer: words, though opposing, will work together have! Of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks is both a deceptive person that... And Elaine & quot ; a terrible beauty is born, & quot ; terrible... Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use ends with n, five,... Language, you might be confused by these figures of speech group words! List you could not find, and creates an impression Elaine & quot ; by Lord... A bone may seem juicy to a dog that is self-contradicting, in! Is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he `` can resist anything except... Including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known across 1699 books, other. Reader to an underlying truth littered all over our daily communications and Send! Guinevere, King Arthur 's wife, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, in a. Or more in one sentence with example sentences have opposing connotations the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its.! But they off the oxymoron finder also, they often lead the reader or listener 's mind generates... Each other Butler Yeats condition as reflected in the reader dog that is self-contradicting, as in wonderful or great. Will work together to have an effect on the reader quot ; - from Easter 1916 William! And the opposite of juicy quot ; the sound of silence & quot ;: by... To describe life 's inherent conflicts and incongruities the following lines refer to Lancelot, who in... It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a comparison!