2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. Oxymoron. Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oxymoron. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. A spendthrift, thereore, is a person who foolishly squanders those savings. In 1778, the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier (1743-94) proposed for the recently discovered element the name . For example, oxymoron phrases such as marital bliss, military intelligence,andbusiness ethics,depending on how they are used as figures of speech, can be effective literary devices to indicate irony. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. For example, "virtual reality" consists of contradictory terms that form a new meaning. An oxymoron refers to a word, phrase, or use of language that seems to directly contradict itself, and it is believed to come from the Greek ox(s), sharp, andmrs, dull. So the word for oxymoron actuallyisan oxymoron in Greek! . This excerpt from Irish poet William Butler Yeats famous poem "Easter 1916" has the prominent oxymoron "terrible beauty," which is repeated again at the end of the poem. Banksy, Wall and Piece.
oxymoron | Etymology, origin and meaning of oxymoron by etymonline the word nascar is an oxymoron - touripedia.eu An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite ideas to create a certain rhetorical or poetic effect and reveal a deeper truth. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.
100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons - ThoughtCo Learn a new word every day. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. The N Word is a figure of speech - a racist and hateful figure of speech. the word nascar is an oxymoron 03 Jun. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Keep going to discover even more.
Lederer (1990), in the spirit of "recreational linguistics", goes as far as to construct "logological oxymorons"[jargon] such as reading the word nook composed of "no" and "ok" or the surname Noyes as composed of "no" plus "yes", or far-fetched punning such as "divorce court", "U.S. Army Intelligence" or "press release". I can resist anything but temptation. The phrase terrific liar pairs two words that have opposing connotations. . Consider these oxymoron examples: I am a deeply superficial person. Andy Warhol, I distinctly remember forgetting that. Clara Barton. Consider the oxymoron example deafening silence. How to use each word. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Website, Richard Nordquist defines oxymorons as a literary device used by writers and poets for centuries "to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.". O loving hate!"). Katie McCabe, TimeOut London, 20 Apr. 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.. 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. It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but it's not. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. 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. 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. Learn more. The inherent setup of contradictory words works great for jokes and other witty statements. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. But in some instances, a single word is all it takes. For nearly 40 years . Oxymoron Quotes.
What Is An Oxymoron? Definition & Examples Of This Writing Technique He gave me a. Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". "pointedly foolish," from oxys "sharp, pointed" (from PIE root *ak- "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce") + mros "stupid" (see moron ). 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, "[21], Examples popularized by comedian George Carlin in 1975 include "military intelligence" (a play on the lexical meanings of the term "intelligence", implying that "military" inherently excludes the presence of "intelligence") and "business ethics" (similarly implying that the mutual exclusion of the two terms is evident or commonly understood rather than the partisan anti-corporate position). Grammarly helps you communicate confidently An oxymoron is a combination of words, typically just two words, with contradictory meanings. 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. The best way to make money is to spend money. nt authority local system. Often, you come across words that are paired together, but maybe completely contradictory in meaning. Value Added Publishing. We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! As a literary device, it is used to make certain word combinations more thought-provoking to stand out. 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. Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. 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. 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. Yes! tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. When someone says a phrase such as "clearly confused," the speaker is finding a new way to describe that individual or object. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. $8.95. So how did we arrive at spendthrift for a word for someone who spends money wastefully? "expressive silence" (Thomson, echoing Cicero's Latin: cum tacent clamant, lit. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. [11], Other examples from English-language literature include: These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Consider these paradox examples: You have to spend money to make money. 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. All rights reserved. Feeling 'bumfuzzled' or have the 'collywobbles'? Hopefully, this list of oxymora has helped you understand how this figure of speech is supposed to be used. Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so.
Oxymoron definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary The other two oxymorons emphasize the fact that no matter what happensfor example,no matter how sad or defeated the speaker might feelthere willalways be a silver lining in that he'swith the love of his life. "Shrimp" in the sense of food is an animal. Season 1, Episode 1.
50 Examples of Oxymorons - ProWritingAid "darkness visible" (Milton), What is an oxymoron? [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]). Combining the idea of before and after leads to a word that describes something that makes so little sense that it leaves you shaking your head.
the word nascar is an oxymoron - nyperfectclicks.com SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM.
What ACT target score should you be aiming for? The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning 'sharp, pointed . Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression: insertListLink('
Huge List of Oxymoron Examples', 2, 2, 'shortexamples'). oxymoron (n.) 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.) 2023 LoveToKnow Media. "faith unfaithful", "falsely true" (Tennyson),[16] Oxymoron definition, a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" or "to make haste slowly." See more. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." By extension, oxymorons deal with the contrast between the meanings of words, but paradoxes focus on the contrast between complete ideas. RELATED: Palindrome Examples: Words and Phrases That Are the Same Backwards and Forwards, RELATED: The Most Confusing Rules in the Grammar World, RELATED:The Best-Ever Hyperbole Examples, RELATED: Pangram Examples Every Word Lover Will Appreciate. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Merriam-Webster defines an oxymoron as a rhetorical device in which a combination of contradictory or incongruous words is used in conjunction. An oxymoron is an opposition between a term and the qualification that is given it, or between two qualities attributed to a single term, or between the simultaneous denial and assertion of the same fact or concept. Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. One example of a paradox is the following conflicting idea.
Oxymoron Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster . Need more help with this topic? Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. , oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing, all of which are quite useful in the right situation: 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. 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). There are quite a few in just the first three letters. 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. Yes. What are examples of oxymoron?
What is an oxymoron? - Answers Slow and steady wins the race. Lord Byron, Don Juan: Canto VIII, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, O brawling love! 1. When we think of oxymorons, we often think of two-word phrases with seemingly opposite components, like "alone together" or "sweet sorrow." Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. "A figure of speech in which a pair of opposed or markedly contradictory terms are placed in conjunction for emphasis", "closely related to hysteron proteron, it shouldn't be, "Hosted for 33 years by the conservative intellectual William F. Buckley Jr., the show [. 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.
Oxymoron - Wikipedia An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions.
1828 Words at Play Internal Conflict: The One-Word Oxymoron When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. And then an interesting thing happens with superette. 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. One classic example of the use of oxymorons in English literature can be found in this example from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo strings together thirteen in a row: O brawling love! May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. 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. More than a few have even become commonplace expressions in modern-day English, such as these oxymoron examples: As with other literary devices like metaphor, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole, oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing, all of which are quite useful in the right situation: As a contradiction of terms, an oxymoron both stands out and also elicits critical thinking. [9] While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet) rather than to a contradictory person. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. Preparing totake the AP Literature test? Crustacean.
Funny Oxymorons - Funny Jokes What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 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. Whether bitter is really the opposite of sweet on the taste spectrum is arguable, but they are often contrasted since bitter is associated with medicines or some vegetables (like radishes) while sweet is associated with, well, sweets (candy and desserts). An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts two words next to each other with very different meanings that end up making sense in a strange way. An oxymoron (plurals: oxymorons and oxymora) is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction. A Comprehensive Guide. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. the word nascar is an oxymoron the word nascar is an oxymoron. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? In this sense, theuprising was simultaneously terrible (in that it led to death) and beautiful (in its romantic aspirations for independence). With the first oxymoron,"perfect imperfections," the speaker is making it clear that his lovers flaws are ultimately what make her the perfect partner for him.