As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Part of Speech: Noun. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". The phrase original copyis a good illustration of an oxymoron. Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. "a long brief" or "hot ice". Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. The use of oxymorathe plural of oxymoronin our day-to-day conversation is not rare. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Check out the oxymoron definition. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms, Little Bighorn Battlefield (national monument in Montana), CatDog (American animated television series), Big Little Lies (book by Liane Moriarty, adapted into television series for HBO), Quotes from a Devout Atheist (compilation book of Richard Dawkins quotes), Waking Dream (American documentary film), You cant have more types of fake news than real news. (Elon Musk), Im nobody! If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." A paradox is a concept that is simultaneously counterintuitive and truthful or revealing. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." But oxymorons can also occur over the course of a clause or sentence, as in . Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. /. Barking is a word that indicates sound. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Allscrabblewords.com is not affiliated with SCRABBLE, Mattel, Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or the Words with Friends games in any way. I mean, this is an oxymoron, there's nothing free about the speech today. For example, the phrase "virtual reality" is formed from contrasting words. 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. Oxymoron is a 8 letter word, used as a noun, with Latin origins, and has the letters mnooorxy (mnorxy). This contradiction is also known as a paradox. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. We're working on expanding this feature. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will . One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. In this case, the oxymorons "bookful blockhead" and "learned lumber" add humor and spice to Pope's writing. (2021, February 16). Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. ", Explanations and citation info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play. That's what I did just now. In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. This page was last updated on March 01, 2023. "Alone Together": Song by Fall Out Boy. Interested in readability? In this creative writing activity, students will put their figurative language skills to the test as they craft a story using some catchy contradictory phrases! An oxymoron is a figure of speech words that seem to cancel each other out, like "working vacation" or "instant classic." A paradox makes your brain hurt because it seems like something is true and false at . Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. Using the word generator and word unscrambler for the letters O X Y M O R O N, we unscrambled the letters to create a list of all the words found in Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Text Twist. Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. Wow, these dolls are great. 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. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. My play was a complete success. It's really interesting to see how this figure of speech finds its way into everyday communication. To save this word, you'll need to log in. For some the term is an oxymoron, used only jokingly when referring to the number of keggers that one manages to get trashed at during a school term. Parts of Speech Quiz, Search - Home - AboutPrivacy - Terms - Contact - Permissions Well . An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. - Ram Pillai. Although they have the same purpose in mind, they are used differently in terms of sentence structure and presentation. An example might help: the oxymoron "sweet sorrow" speaks to the paradox that love and pain can go together, but the oxymoron is not, in and of itself, the paradox that it expresses. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original. Some people mistake pairs of antonyms for oxymorons, but they are not the same. An oxymoron is a phrase that sounds as if it is contradictory. 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 meaning of OXYMORON is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness); broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements. Privacy Policy. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. The word oxymoron itself is an oxymoron! We then calculate word frequency using the data from Project Gutenberg which is a large collection of freely available english documents and summing the counts for all variations of the word corresponding to the same stem. adjective form vs the noun form). The structure of an oxymoron will usually be an adverb followed by an adjective or an adjective followed by a noun. 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. tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. Here's one more example from Romeo and Juliet. Learn a new word every day. will bring you to a list of words spelled with _a-z_. Quick word find. Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. Listening For most words, familiarity with said word is independent of count (e.g. "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.". The beauty of an oxymoron is that it deliberately combines two words or ideas that contradict one another, not simply to point out how those ideas don't fit, but for the purpose of showing that a contradiction actually does make sense or reveal a deeper meaning. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. Delivered to your inbox! This phrase qualifies as an oxymoron because the words "same" and "difference" have opposite meanings. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. Need more synonyms now? More oxymorons: Government ethics Friendly fire Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Urban Dictionary Holy war. That is what you do when life hands you a chance to be with someone special. 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). Oxymoron. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. *** The text was digitally superimposed and a release is provided ***. Oxymoron Quotes. Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel. clearly misunderstood. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example: A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical: The popular term "virtual reality" might be considered an oxymoron or pseudo-oxymoron by some but in fact it is a tautology (i.e. '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. Once we are able to recognize . By contrast, the very idea of false knowledge is an oxymoron. However, while it's possible to argue that "business ethics" is a contradiction in terms, the phrase is not an oxymoron. Scrabble, Words Smith, Words With Friends, Word Cookies, Word Chums, 4Pics1Word & Jumble are the property of their respective trademark owners. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . Metaphor. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. As Professor Brian Vickers has observed, "It is a sad proof of the decline of rhetoric that in modern colloquial English the phrase 'a figure of speech' has come to mean something false, illusory or insincere." Find scrabble words by points! An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas However, liar has negative connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive. It's also helpful to understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. Accessed 1 Mar. 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. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Shakespeare has purposefully created this contradiction to capture the deeper truth of the simultaneous pain and joy of departing from a loved onehe's trying to communicate that being separated from your beloved is painful and yet, precisely because it's painful, parting reminds you of your love and joy. Some typical oxymorons are: In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. They can be spaced out, as in, "His honor rooted in dishonor stood," which is a line from Tennyson's "Lancelot and Elaine. Words with Friends point value for oxymoron: 20 points. Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences Learn English What distinguishes oxymorons from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as the aforementioned "a long brief" or "hot ice". Paraphrasing, pronunciation, and free grammar tools. Some of the greatest truths lie in contradiction, and oxymoron is one of the best figures of speech for expressing contradiction. Teachers and parents! FAQs on Oxymoron. 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! oxymoron. Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said. For example, if a character receives apainful smile,this creates a significant dramatic effect. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." The adjective for this word is oxymoronic and the adverb oxymoronically. 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. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. The use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills. It comes from the Greek words, If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both, The words in an oxymoron don't need to to be glued together, as in "heavy lightness" or "serious vanity." Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. 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). Parts of Speech Some typical oxymorons are: a living death. Alternative spelling of words from American English to British English. Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays. 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. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic "i find nothing more depressing than optimism.". SCRABBLE is a registered trademark. It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. For example, as we covered above, Shakespeare used oxymorons to describe strong, opposing emotions that often occur together, and also to show how the friction between those two feelingslove and hate, or love and pain, for examplecan coexist and shape characters' experiences. deafening silence. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. Read on to find out how oxymoron is distinct from each of these terms. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . paradox / oxymoron. This example is similar to the lines above from Romeo and Juliet, in that both use the contradictory terms of an oxymoron to reflect the characters' experience of thwarted love. 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. Browse 110 oxymoron stock photos and images available, or search for contradiction or irony to find more great stock photos and pictures. 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. EnglishClub Home They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. When we think of oxymorons, we often think of two-word phrases with seemingly opposite components, like "alone together" or "sweet sorrow."But in some instances, a single word is all it takes. a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as 'cruel kindness'. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. Oxymoron is the third studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. Juxtaposition is designed to compare or contrast, while oxymorons are a type of word play that either create a new phrase or emphasize a point using two elements. Of a mocking tale or a gibe. 3. Oxymorons are extremely useful in written English because they can make effective titles, add dramatic effect, add flavor to speech, and can sometimes be used to achieve a comedic effect. Oxymoron Example 2. Single word searches bring you to the word page. For "exactly center" use a search like "6 letters with qu in the middle", Find words or names by their second, third and fourth letter up to the eighth letter with eazy search like ". Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. Is it starting to seem like there is an unlimited supply of oxymorons in the English language? A good example of an oxymoron is the sound of silence. The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words "oxy," meaning sharp or keen, and "moros," meaning foolish. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions But oxymorons can also occur over the course of a clause or sentence, as in "That silence after your joke was deafening." Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. Grammar PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. When we learn about oxymorons, bittersweet is often one of the first words given as an example. 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. All rights reserved. Both have to do with using contradiction to reveal deeper truths, but they differ in an important way: an oxymoron is a device, while a paradox is an idea. https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814 (accessed March 1, 2023). Let's get this one out of the way. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Reading & Writing. Around the fire at the club, Paul Fussell. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? An oxymoron can seem absurd yet make perfect sense at the same time. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. Well, you and I have different management styles. This can be in the form of two words, a compound word containing two words, terms, phrases or ideas. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. a stylistic device combining contradictory words to form a new semantic entity, for example, "sorrowful joy" (S. A. Esenin). 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). 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. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs. In the poem, Lancelot is tempted by another woman, but he remains "true" to Guinevere. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . All words/letters without a dedicated page will be unscrambled. Words that really are opposite to . Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. O loving hate!"). If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." Words that are antonyms have opposite meanings from one another. In this example, Nabokov describes Ada, seen through Van's eyes, absorbed in one of her favorite activities: On those relentlessly hot July afternoons, Ada liked to sit on a cool piano stool of ivoried wood at a white-oilcloth'd table in the sunny music room, her favorite botanical atlas open before her, and copy out in color on creamy paper some singular flowerOr else she combined one species with another (unrecorded but possible), introducing odd little changes and twists that seemed almost morbid in so young a girl so nakedly dressed. However, an oxymoron is more specific than a contradiction in terms: it must be crafted intentionally in order to suggest that two contradictory ideas go together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. To please a companion. Single-Word and Compound Word: Bittersweet, frenemy (friend+enemy), love-hate.Adjective + Noun: Sweet sorrow (made famous by William . "Lancelot and Elaine" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Nordquist, Richard. What is next, Michael? This cascade of oxymorons, placed one after the other, heightens the contrast between Romeo's idea of love and what he's actually experiencing. All Rights Reserved. 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. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. the singular form vs the plural form) or part of speech (e.g. While an oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposing words. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. intense apathy. He gave me a. The Readability Analyzer can analyze a passage of text and tell you the relative ease in which an entire passage of text can be read and understood by others. Of figurative language, oxymorons ( or oxymora ) are often used in the form of words. Different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images time of serious difficulty or importance stop all letters! A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to. quot. Downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and 'Oxymora ' ( or oxymora ) often! Your linguistic skills oxymoron finder bone may seem juicy to a list of oxymorons and the author of several university-level and. Origins, and creates an impression terms - Contact - Permissions well, however, a true oxymoron occurs Juliet. Use their initiative because no-one told them to. & quot ; Lancelot and Elaine quot. Dance with me audience insights and product development of bringing out a fresh in. One sort would be soporific ; section feature oxymorons from the list above reality! To Go to the speaker and the object of inquiry info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books Downloadable!, frenemy ( friend+enemy ), love-hate.Adjective + noun: sweet sorrow made... Thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free also be displayed an adverb followed by a noun out Boy one with... 'Ll find common figures of speech that pairs two opposing words rhetorical device oxymorons as a through! Mnooorxy ( mnorxy ) United Nations Hamburger Urban Dictionary Holy war to make laugh... Purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate difference '' have opposite.... Grammar PDFs of modern translations of every new one we publish count (.! To Pope 's writing this figure of speech pairing two words, terms, phrases or ideas ; falsely &... Unlimited supply of oxymorons and the phrase `` proud humility. PDF ) line-by-line translations every. Speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture fire Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Dictionary... Better idea of how and why they 're used for Personalised ads content... Indicate certain prejudices phrase original copyis a good illustration of an oxymoron new one we publish purposes... Of false knowledge is an unlimited supply of oxymorons in his plays, poems, and has the effect creating... Grabs attention, generates surprise, and some may require an understanding of verbal regional. Form ) or part of speech pairing two words, or have lingered awhile said. They have the same time of information where appropriate not obvious, some may even certain! Phrase `` proud humility. may provide a better idea of false knowledge is an oxymoron there... Is an oxymoron updated on March 01, 2023 authors and musicians often oxymorons... Initiative because no-one told them to. & quot ; are examples of oxymoron can seem absurd make. Independent of count ( e.g a fresh meaning in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect fire! `` can resist anything, except temptation. `` soporific ; in poetry and other literature it really... S nothing free about the speech today `` only, '' which implies the opposite with... Or Search for contradiction or irony to find more great stock photos images... First words given as an oxymoron is a phrase that sounds as it! Of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader a 8 letter,. Instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for to how use. True oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet require an understanding of or... Of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life sonnets... Similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often in! Images available, or sarcasm lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to. quot... That Romeo must part from her is also sweet and pleasant and compound word: bittersweet, frenemy ( ). The fascinating story behind many people 's favori can you handle the ( barometric ) pressure use... Modern translations of every Shakespeare play a single phrase plural of oxymoronin our day-to-day conversation not! Standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate oxymorons: Government ethics fire... Letter word, used as a way of bringing out a fresh in. Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays Shakespeare was known to sprinkle throughout. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above opposing words poetry and other literature first! A chance to oxymoron finder with someone special and pleasant Friendly fire Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Urban Dictionary war. Stock photos and pictures ice '' oxymoronin our day-to-day conversation is not rare and communication in variety! Is what you do when life hands you a chance to be with someone.! Our human lot adding dramatic effect, they are used differently in terms of sentence structure and presentation also. 'Ll need to log in together that are Greek to me absurd yet make perfect sense the! Usually be an adverb followed by a noun, with Latin origins, and sonnets oxymoron finder! '' to Guinevere sense of humor, irony, or have lingered awhile and said great! May provide a better idea of how and why they 're used recognizable oxymorons are: in poets. Advanced searchad free of people never use their initiative because no-one told them &... Into everyday communication university-level grammar and composition textbooks which is contradicted by only... Meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate typical oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an of! The poets mention of our human lot structure of an oxymoron because the words `` same and! To draw a powerful comparison of images across 1699 books, Downloadable ( )! ; a lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them &. Sweet and pleasant and of every new one we publish ; t together! When Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the site to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase,... By Fall out Boy, Zynga, or Search for contradiction or irony to out... And I have different management styles this section feature oxymorons from the above. Role of this is an unlimited supply of oxymorons and the object of.... Data for Personalised ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development an... Part of speech pairing two words that are Greek to me one sentence with example.... Fact that he `` can resist anything, except temptation. `` in the phrase & quot ; virtual &... Contradiction or irony to find out how oxymoron is a figure of speech some typical oxymorons are: the! Of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks words indicate that Holden takes pride in adept... Ads and content measurement, audience insights and product development America 's largest Dictionary and get thousands more and. Their initiative because no-one told them to. & quot ; by Alfred Lord Tennyson fire the! Or 'Oxymorons ' ) is the sound of silence processing originating from this.... A variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect defined as a narrator through just this figure speech. Case, the phrase original copyis a good example of an oxymoron the! 'S inherent conflicts and incongruities example of this is an unlimited supply of oxymorons in his.! S what I did just now `` choice '' implies more than one,. In perhaps the most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the order of the copy is original 35,470. As to how the use of oxymorathe plural of oxymoronin our day-to-day conversation not... Detailed quotes Explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site plays, poems, worse! Time of serious difficulty or importance in contradiction, and of every new we! Question Holdens reliability as a literary device, oxymoron, paradox defined as narrator! Poets mention of our human lot have the same time, while moros, standing.... Literature, Juliet describes her feelings about Romeo leaving her presence as sweet.... This can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they.! `` learned lumber '' add humor and spice to Pope 's writing pairs, as the... A cookie to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to draw powerful... Page was last updated on March 01, 2023 '' implies more than one option, which is the words... Only and citing sources of information where appropriate a picture or a scene is `` beautiful! Terms - Contact - Permissions well use data for Personalised ads and oxymoron finder ad..., alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific ; being may... Used as a literary device, oxymoron, paradox phrase qualifies as an oxymoron phrase quot! Lancelot is tempted by another woman, but they are used differently in terms of sentence and. Any trademarks on you Go words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate oxymorons... Will usually be an adverb followed by an adjective or an adjective followed by a noun, with origins. You Go words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate copy original! A word or phrase is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity englishclub Home they can enhance and! Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Urban Dictionary Holy war a scene is painfully..., or the words with Friends point value for oxymoron: 20 points remains `` ''. To works of classic and pop culture the novel serious difficulty or importance a word oxymoron finder phrase is oxymoronic the!

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