In a more extended sense, the term "oxymoron" has also been applied to inadvertent or incidental contradictions, as in the case of "dead metaphors" ("barely clothed" or "terribly good"). 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. Consider these oxymoron examples: I am a deeply superficial person. Andy Warhol, I distinctly remember forgetting that. Clara Barton. All Rights Reserved. If you're calling someone a "shrimp" meaning small or little, and then adding the adjective "jumbo," THEN it's an oxymoron. 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". When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. An example of such a "comical oxymoron" is "educational television": the humour derives entirely from the claim that it is an oxymoron by the implication that "television" is so trivial as to be inherently incompatible with "education". William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. We provide informative and helpful articles about the newest fiction and nonfiction books on the market that you can come back to again and again when you have the urge for a new book to dig into. Yes. O loving hate!"). [11], Other examples from English-language literature include: "expressive silence" (Thomson, echoing Cicero's Latin: cum tacent clamant, lit. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas 'when they are silent, they cry out'), Generally, the ideas will come astwo separate words placed side by side. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that is made up of two or more words that seem to be the opposite of each other or truly are opposite of each other. Oxymorons are common, often unconscious, literary devices. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. According to Dictionary, the word oxymoron has been used since the 17th century and comes from the New Latin and Late Latin oxymorum, which stems from the presumed Greek oxmron and Greek oxumron which is the neuter of oxmros/oxumros and equivalent to ox, then added to the suffix mrs. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. 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.) Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. Yes! Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The main topic of this poem is the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin, an event during whichnumerous Irish nationalists rebelled against the British government in Ireland. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." Here's an example of paradox from George Orwell's Animal Farm: We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For? 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. J. R. R. Tolkien interpreted his own surname as derived from the Low German equivalent of dull-keen (High German toll-khn) which would be a literal equivalent of Greek oxy-moron. He gave me a. Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way. Find 52 ways to say OXYMORON, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation: Good night, good night! This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Oxymorons are common in everyday speech. Generally, the ideas will come as two separate words placed side by side. An oxymoronis a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. But in some instances, a single word is all it takes. Like a paradox, an oxymoron is whats known as a contradiction in terms, although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: With loads of learned lumber in his head . The pairing, while apparently paradoxical . The term chiaroscuro, used in Renaissance painting, refers to the transition from light to shadow across an object (such as a muscled arm) to create the perception of depth. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! 1. Write with Grammarly. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. the word nascar is an oxymoron. )[10] or sopho-more (an artificial Greek compound, lit. The plural of "oxymoron" is "oxymorons" or "oxymora," but "oxymorons" is far more popular [ evidence ]. There are plenty more to be discovered! doug lamborn voting record June 23, 2022 the word nascar is an oxymoron She is passionate about education, writing, and travel. So elements that mean great and small combine to form a noun for a place to pick up your provisions. In its original Italian, chiaro means clear or light, while oscuro means obscure or dark., One ambitious curator went for a whole Caravaggio, The Supper at Emmaus, using clever kitchen lighting for some real-life chiaroscuro. 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. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. A paradox is a statement that technically contradicts itself but remains true nonetheless. June 3, 2022 . Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. Oxymoron Definitions The dictionary definition of oxymoron is:- A rhetorical figure of speech in which contradictory terms are paired, for example, alone together, current history or boneless ribs. Not monosyllabic or one word, but I came upon an "oxymoron that isn't" in a book I am reading, The Pale King, David Foster Wallace (posthumous): "spectacularly dull."It turns out this phrase is pretty common. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! Adding "jumbo" doesn't make the . Want to learn more about figures of speech, besides oxymorons and paradoxes? There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. 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.". 1, 'Cattywampus' and Other Funny-Sounding Words. Here are some well-known and recognizable examples of this figure of speech: People are often confused by the difference between oxymoron and paradox. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. (Hence you might buy vintage clothing for cheap at a thrift store.) Oxymorons are often confused with paradoxesafter all, both are textbook contradictions of terms. Highlighting their differences accentuates their meaning and the words come across stronger. This presents the word. 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. Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. Lord Byron, Don Juan: Canto VIII, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, But pairing it with, a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. This contradiction is also known as aparadox. it is itself an example of an oxymoron. An oxymoron is a term in which two contradictory terms are combined. Smiles are rarely associated with pain. Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. Value Added Publishing. Sophomore is the term for a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school. There are a number of single-word oxymorons built from "dependent morphemes"[9] (i.e. Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." Merriam-Webster defines an oxymoron as a rhetorical device in which a combination of contradictory or incongruous words is used in conjunction. Ask questions; get answers. We already gave an oxymoron definition above, so here lets talk about paradoxes. (One, in particular, is in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, wherein combining things that contrast is an ongoing theme.) This stanza, from Lord Tennysons retelling of the tale of King Arthur, usesseveral oxymorons for poetic effect and as a way to emphasize the conundrum that Lancelot, Arthurs most loyal knight and friend, finds himself in. Now that weve gone over what an oxymoron is, lets take a closer look at four famous oxymoron examples in sentences to better understand how this literary device actually works. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. They're not always small, and the word doesn't mean small in this sense. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. "[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). An oxymoron is a phrase made of two or more words that actually have opposite meanings. Reading these words together will often cause a reader to pause and think about what the writer is trying to convey. 1828 Words at Play Internal Conflict: The One-Word Oxymoron When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. Lets get this one out of the way. The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning 'sharp, pointed . It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but it's not. 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_13',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_14',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}. . One goose, two geese. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. As a literary device, it is used to make certain word combinations more thought-provoking to stand out. 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. [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]). An oxymoron can seem absurd yet make perfect sense at the same time. The Greek compound word oksmron, which would correspond to the Latin formation, does not seem to appear in any known Ancient Greek works prior to the formation of the Latin term.[8]. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. ., And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true., The main difference between an oxymoron and a paradox is that, . tags: independent-thought , initiative , oxymoron , paradox. Big baby. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Learn more. Even though the two words are often antonyms (words with opposite meanings), they don't negate each other. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions [9] The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning sharp, pointed and moron, moros that meant dull or foolish.