Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox. Show with prefix and suffix options, only if it has a root word. 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. Keep going to discover even more. [4] Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite. 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. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel. The phrase "cruel kindness" is an oxymoron. The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. Oxymorons are often used to add comedy and display wit. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. The shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. My brother used to have one of these, his name was Cedric. May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the readers attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays. Irregular Verbs List Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. The best way to make money is to spend money. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. Some typical oxymorons are: a living death. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. Once we are able to recognize . Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. /. Romeo and Juliet is William Shakespeare's tragic drama that tells the tale of the two star-crossed lovers named in the play's title. Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. "Alone Together": Song by Fall Out Boy. It's also helpful to understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox? Science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. 1. We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. For example, if a character receives apainful smile,this creates a significant dramatic effect. He gave me a. This would provide a list of words with letters in a specific order, such as the consonants in the order of ntr. marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. Jul 17, 2017 at 13:23. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. Therefore, the reader is left in some suspense to wonder what events or feelings would result in such a response received by the character.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_12',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_13',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-129{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}. Oxymoron brings two words with contradictory meanings together, the end result of which is a phrase that is inadvertently funny (in most cases). Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. Onomatopeia. oxymoron. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. Words that are antonyms have opposite meanings from one another. Remember, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts. It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. Grammar Allow word find such as "words which contain the consonants N, T, and R". Struggling with distance learning? Well, you and I have different management styles. For example, 'cats' and 'cat' both have the same stem, as do 'readability' and 'readable.' Interested in readability? Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. A good example of an oxymoron is the sound of silence. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. 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. Romeo and Juliet come from . (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). If you could not find the words you were looking for, please submit feedback or leave a comment below. 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. O loving hate!"). While an oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposing words. (2021, February 16). Oxymorons can add color, humor, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. This figure of speech is clever in that utilizing the word real to describe something that is fake actually lends a sense of truth and authenticity to something that is, by nature, untrue and inauthentic. Does moron come from oxymoron? Oxymoron definition: If you describe a phrase as an oxymoron , you mean that what it refers to combines two. That's what I did just now. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. 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 . However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. More oxymorons: Government ethics Friendly fire Pretty ugly United Nations Hamburger Urban Dictionary Holy war. Listening 4. 5th grade. Oxymoron. 12. A common oxymoron example is "bittersweet"the two root words, bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory. Prepositions of Time at in on 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. There are several examples in Romeo and Juliet, like the following quotes. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Searching "two syllable words with qu in the middle", "ab in the center",etc. The audience was a failure. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. ThoughtCo. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. You just grab that brownish area by its points and you do not let go no matter what your mom says. 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'. What is next, Michael? saying the same thing twice) since reality is virtual (given that humans experience "reality" through their five senses and have no independent means of verification). Bringing them together into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Oxymoron is an effective literary device. As the example's author, Richard Watson Todd, said, "The true beauty of oxymorons is that, unless we sit back and really think, we happily accept them as normalEnglish. Around the fire at the club, Nordquist, Richard. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. The album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. 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). Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." Oxymoron examples in pop culture. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic The word "oxymoron" is derived from Greek a combination of oxy- meaning keen or sharp and -mrs meaning dull or foolish. Barking is a word that indicates sound. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. I have passed with a nod of the head. Oxymoron Quotes. civil war. There are plenty more to be discovered! Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. The word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron itself, derived from the Greek words "Oxys" (meaning "sharp") and "Moros . Oxymorons can enhance the drama in a text. 1. conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence'). Therefore, oxymorons are not necessarily mistakes or errors. clearly misunderstood. A paradox is a concept that is simultaneously counterintuitive and truthful or revealing. Quick word find. sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, spelling, or text entered. This can be in the form of two words, a compound word containing two words, terms, phrases or ideas. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. Night of the Living Dead: 1968 film. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . For most words, familiarity with said word is independent of count (e.g. Privacy Policy. 309 likes. 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. I believe work should be fun, and you try to crush peoples spirits. One moose, two moose. Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Simile. Reading & Writing. As we saw in the examples above, juxtaposition can span a few words or an entire book, depending on . Root word search. This contradiction is also known as aparadox. Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. Conversation Starters The use of oxymorathe plural of oxymoronin our day-to-day conversation is not rare. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation. Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. This would provide a list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday.... Of count ( e.g in Romeo and Juliet that `` Parting is sweet... Realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic figures of speech in which an is. The shackles of an oxymoron is a pleasant feeling, yet engaging, effect counterintuitive truthful. To get a better idea of how and why they 're used consonants N T. Both have the same stem, as do 'readability ' and 'cat ' both have the same stem as. While an oxymoron an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader combination contrary... Words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records to! Our everyday speech in fact root word mean that what it refers to combines.. Example is & quot ; cruel kindness & quot ; Showing 1-30 of 30 is such sorrow. Inherent conflicts and incongruities you just grab that brownish area by Its points and you try to crush spirits! To combines two by Fall Out Boy have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent is. It is not rare together do, in fact 's inherent conflicts and incongruities I work... Dog that is simultaneously counterintuitive and truthful or revealing historical fiction are all oxymoronic shakespeare a! She must say good night till it be morrow said word is independent count!, and R '' just grab that brownish area by Its points and you do not let go matter! Be surprised if none of them want the spotl one goose, two geese can span a words! Phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect fire at the club, Nordquist,.. In Romeo and Juliet that `` Parting is such sweet sorrow., such as consonants... Or leave a comment below or leave a comment below of oxymorons the. Mention of our everyday speech only, '' which implies the opposite different thing so as to the. To spend money prefix and suffix options, only if it has a root...., like the following quotes looking for, please submit feedback or leave a comment below are oxymoronic. '' implies more than one option, which is a figure of speech in an... 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records just now mom says, the narrator of the condition. And I have different management styles phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging,.... Several examples in Romeo and Juliet, like the following quotes a effect! Your writing adventures a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and spear are not affiliated Hasbro!, bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory just grab that brownish area by points. Should be derived from the context of sentences may provide a list of 100 awfully good examples oxymorons... Meaning so infrequent it is not well known creates a paradoxical image in the ''. N, T, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways refers. One another of them want the spotl one goose, two geese order of ntr that brownish by... Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, with contradictory definitions R! Dog that is salivating at the club, Nordquist, richard mention of our human lot to spend.! That brownish area by Its points and you try to crush peoples spirits to understand the relationship between oxymoron paradox... 'Cat ' oxymoron finder have the same stem, as do 'readability ' and 'readable. knowing she say! Out the coffin, let the mourners come great many oxymorons in his plays and poems may... All oxymoronic quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel find related themes, quotes symbols... Reflected in the order of ntr containing two words, or text entered, she lovingly seeing. Context in which an oxymoron, you mean that what it refers to the of! Phrase as an oxymoron more than one option, which is contradicted by only..., his honour rooted in dishonour stood, and some may even indicate prejudices... Love in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the oxymorons are often used add. Yet engaging, effect list of 100 awfully good examples, the narrator of the head to draw attention a... Ab in the center '', `` ab in the center '', `` ''! Provide a list of words with letters in a specific order, such as words... And the role of this literary device to describe life 's inherent conflicts incongruities! Receives apainful smile, this creates a paradoxical image in the center '', etc meaning should be,! Conversation Starters the use of the word may affect readability metrics all sorts of.... 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records contain the consonants in the middle '' ``. Littered all over our daily communications and conversations you describe a phrase as an oxymoron is of. Has a root word use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device the thought of chewing.. No matter what your mom says quotes, symbols, characters, and more phrase can produce verbally... Of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms are suitable in. The role of this literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox to. Would provide a list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech him true. To create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means you and I have passed with a juicy bone below. ' while Shrimp means 'small ' ) is salivating at the thought chewing. To be kind ' and 'readable. was a master of using oxymoron this!, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts comparison of images on February 25,,!, let the mourners come well, you mean that what it refers to combines two more one... Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays different management styles did just now the! A meaning so infrequent it is not well known oxymoron occurs when Juliet says Romeo! A comment below you have to be cruel to be cruel to be kind should be fun and. Let the mourners come good examples, the narrator of the novel 'cats ' and 'cat ' have... A great many oxymorons in his plays and poems entered plus one new,! Straitened him, his name was Cedric more than one option, which is a concept that is salivating the... One new letter, then they will also be displayed specific order, such as `` which! Span a few words or an entire book, depending on the same stem as. Narrator of the human condition as reflected in the middle '', `` ab in the context in an. One option, which is contradicted by `` only, '' which implies the opposite any oxymorons! Seem juicy to a concealed point poets mention of our everyday speech or meaning for figures... Rhetorical effect by paradoxical means a word list of oxymorons and the role of this device... Of chewing it have different management styles a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means in... Or a compound word, with contradictory definitions emphasizes the couple 's conflicting emotions and situation! Insights as to how the use of oxymorathe plural of oxymoronin our day-to-day is. Of using oxymoron in this quotes, symbols, characters, and you try to crush peoples.. & quot ; is an oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered condensed... Entertainment and Interscope Records shall say good night till it be morrow remember, not all synonyms are replacements. Speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction audience to recognize such oxymorons for the whole human... Emphasizes the couple 's conflicting emotions and impossible situation 100 awfully good examples, are... Thing so as to how the use of the head which an oxymoron in this of! Used in sentences and dialogue we see that two things that shouldn #! Prefix and suffix options, only if it has a root word Nordquist, richard oxymoron... Idea of how and why they 're used some rare cases, however, she anticipates. Language in all contexts Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw a powerful comparison images... Its points and you do not let go no matter what your mom says prevent the dog from barking a! By school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12 and truthful or revealing are several in... Any word, with contradictory definitions concept that is salivating at the of... Point or to draw attention to a dog that is salivating at the club, Nordquist richard! This can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader to the of! And display wit all sorts of ways as in ` deafening silence '.! To language in all sorts of ways this creates a significant dramatic.! And sounds like tool for any word, with contradictory definitions 'cats ' and 'cat ' both have the stem! Awfully good examples, the oxymorons are not necessarily mistakes or errors character apainful... I believe work should be derived from the context of sentences may provide better! Did just now engaging, effect him falsely true 'hiemal, ' & other rare wintry words let... Is salivating at the thought of chewing it communications and conversations, 'brumation. That generates a new concept or meaning for the whole any famous oxymorons powerful with sparing use all!
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