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. Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. "damn with faint praise" (Pope),[15] Now, don't let your brain start to hurt just yetup next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. What are examples of oxymoron? These lines come from the hit 2013 song "All of Me" recorded by John Legend. Its a somewhat regional word for a small convenience-type grocery store, often used in business names (Carsons Superette). As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. This five puzzle package is a collection of the five puzzles that I've written on the palindrome, the oxymoron, and the onomatopoeia figures of speech. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. What is an oxymoron? O loving hate! One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: 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. Need more help with this topic? An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning sharp, pointed and moron, moros that meant dull or foolish. [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]). Check out the oxymoron definition. 309 likes. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. "Oxymoron" is Greek for "sharply dull," so the word is itself an oxymoron. Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. the word nascar is an oxymoron. It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but its not. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? Heres a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More | Merriam-Webster Est. 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, A paradox is a statement that technically contradicts itself but remains true nonetheless. For nearly 40 years . 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. O anything of nothing first create! Thus, as the oxymoron suggests, this scene ishappy since Juliet and Romeo are in love, yet it's also sad because they must say goodbyeand cannot stay together through the night. An oxymoronis a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. Home Uncategorized the word nascar is an oxymoron. the word nascar is an oxymoron. Like a paradox, an oxymoron is whats known as a contradiction in terms, although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. 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. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. Oxymoron, , Acutifatuum aut stulte acutum, subtilly foolish; derived from , [oxy] acumen, sharpnesse of wit, and , [moros] stultus, a fool. The word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron; in Greek, oxy- means "sharp" or "wise," while moros means "foolish." Is an oxymoron always 2 words? But pairing it with, a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. the word nascar is an oxymoron - nyperfectclicks.com "proud humility" (Spenser),[13] 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. Placing contrasting words next to each other makes each one stand out more, just like placing contrasting colors together. Well provide oxymoron examples and provide guidance on how theyre used, but first, lets look at a more thorough oxymoron definition. oxymoron | Etymology, origin and meaning of oxymoron by etymonline The dictionary defines an oxymoron as a wittily paradoxical turn of phrase that appeals to unconscious responses instead of rational examinations. ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. "with the hinder part before", compare hysteron proteron, "upside-down", "head over heels", "ass-backwards" etc. As rhetorical devices, oxymorons have been used in many different mediums from political speeches to novels to stage plays. 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. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. A person who is thrifty does not like to spend money. Sophomore is the term for a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school. A spendthrift, thereore, is a person who foolishly squanders those savings. 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. Oxymoron - The Complete Oxymoron List - Oxymoron.info Also, mastering the oxymoron is an elegant way to weave clever wordplay into your creative writing.. An oxymoron can be a word or phrase in one of these formats: . There are quite a few in just the first three letters. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. By extension, oxymorons deal with the contrast between the meanings of words, but paradoxes focus on the contrast between complete ideas. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. 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. In this scene, Juliet utters the phrase "sweet sorrow" to describe the feeling she has when having to say goodbye to Romeo. Website, Richard Nordquist defines oxymorons as a literary device used by writers and poets for centuries "to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.". Nordquist, Richard. One moose, two moose. They're not always small, and the word doesn't mean small in this sense. Oscar Wilde. Keep going to discover even more. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. They add flavour to speech and can also be cynical, sarcastic, or witty and used for comic effect or relief. [9] What is an oxymoron? - Answers Oxymorons are often confused with paradoxesafter all, both are textbook contradictions of terms. A Huge List of Oxymorons to Help You Understand the Concept It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. it is itself an example of an oxymoron. 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 . These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' 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. Oxymoron - Definition and Examples | LitCharts the word nascar is an oxymoron - sinfinconstruction.be Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject. In this sense, theuprising was simultaneously terrible (in that it led to death) and beautiful (in its romantic aspirations for independence). Delivered to your inbox! Like chiaroscuro, pianoforte is an Italian term used in the arts, combining the adjectives for soft and loud. The music direction forte-piano means loud then immediately soft.. 'when they are silent, they cry out'), Some oxymorons are accidental and/or so common in our speech that we dont realize that theyre totally contradictory. 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). "darkness visible" (Milton), May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. O loving hate!"). Generally, the ideas will come as two separate words placed side by side. (One, in particular, is in. 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. Want to learn more about figures of speech, besides oxymorons and paradoxes? ), so this article explains everything you need to know. Examples of Oxymorons | YourDictionary - Example Articles & Resources Oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms think "deafening silence," "wise fool" or "cruel kindness.". Many oxymora are simple to understand and interpret their hidden meaning. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. 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. This famous quotation from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points, How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer, Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests. These cookies do not store any personal information. Oxymorons is now more common in print than oxymora, but you'll find the latter listed in most dictionaries. In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. 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. Oxymoron Quotes (30 quotes) - Goodreads Wills argues that use of the term "oxymoron" should remain reserved for the conscious use of contradiction to express something that is "surprisingly true". For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny oxymoron quotes. What Is an Oxymoron? - Facty They also occasionally work well with figurative language to compound the power behind certain words. For example, "virtual reality" consists of contradictory terms that form a new meaning. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". Even though the two words are often antonyms (words with opposite meanings), they don't negate each other. ThoughtCo. cabarrus county sheriff's office directory . The inherent setup of contradictory words works great for jokes and other witty statements. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. The dictionary defines an oxymoron as a "wittily paradoxical turn of phrase that appeals to 'unconscious responses' instead of rational examinations". It's really interesting to see how this figure of speech finds its way into everyday communication. If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. Then check out our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. Easy Examples of Oxymorons Act naturally Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. An oxymoron is also a noun that's defined as "a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in 'cruel kindness' or 'to make haste slowly.'" So when contradictory or opposing words are combined, that expression is an oxymoron. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! Are you Nobody too? (, Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. (, Vidia was complicated, two fairies in one, a loyal traitor. (Gail Carson Levine). An oxymoron is a conjoined pair of (seemingly) contradictory terms, e.g.deafening silence, pretty ugly, same difference, silent scream, or jumbo shrimp. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. [11], Other examples from English-language literature include: 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}. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. What Is an Oxymoron? Definition and Examples | Grammarly What is An Oxymoron? | The Word Counter One goose, two geese. And, of course, plenty of people use oxymorons intentionally for humorous effect. Oxymoron Quotes. The humour derives from implying that an assumption (which might otherwise be expected to be controversial or at least non-evident) is so obvious as to be part of the lexicon. Oxymoron - Wikipedia 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.". Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write.