Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Nordquist, Richard. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Learn all about effective imageryandwhat personification is with our expert guides. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original. You can find her byline on pieces about grammar, fun facts, the meanings of various head-scratching words and phrases, and more. Despite what it might sound like, noan oxymoron isnt something you can call your little brother when hes bugging you. What is an Oxymoron? || Definition & Examples | | College of Liberal An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. From 5th century Latin oxymoron, from Ancient Greek (oxus, "sharp") (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + (mros, "dull") (English moron ("stupid person")).Literally "sharp-dull", itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore (literally "wise fool"), influenced by similar analysis.The compound form * (oxumron) is not found in the extant Greek . An oxymoron is a consecutive set of words that have contradictory meanings. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. [22], Similarly, the term "civil war" is sometimes jokingly referred to as an "oxymoron" (punning on the lexical meanings of the word "civil"). [9] . Placing contrasting words next to each other makes each one stand out more, just like placing contrasting colors together. 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}. They add flavour to speech and can also be cynical, sarcastic, or witty and used for comic effect or relief. Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny oxymoron quotes. An oxymoron can seem absurd yet make perfect sense at the same time. For example, in Chinese, compounds like (man and woman, male and female, gender), (yin and yang), (good and evil, morality) are used to indicate couples, ranges, or the trait that these are extremes of. 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). What Is an Oxymoron? - The Habitat Usually, oxymorons are made up of just two words, but paradoxes are complete sentences, sometimes entire paragraphs. But if the statement is true, then it cant be false, despite the fact it claims to be! 50 Examples of Oxymorons - ProWritingAid Take a look at which ones you have used in conversation: 60 Easy Oxymoron Examples + Analysis - PrepScholar 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. "faith unfaithful", "falsely true" (Tennyson),[16] See how other students and parents are navigating high school, college, and the college admissions process. Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. Meghan graduated from Marist College with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2017; her creative nonfiction piece Anticipation was published in the Spring 2017 issue of Angles literary magazine. What is An Oxymoron? | The Word Counter However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. mars 15, 2021 . | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples "Saturday Night Live transcripts." As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. 309 likes. to compound the power behind certain words. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? Oxymoron Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster The Greek expression "to oxymoron" refers, literally, to the "acutely mad". 1481-82). In 1778, the French chemist Antoine Lavoisier (1743-94) proposed for the recently discovered element the name . Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. This famous quotation from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Oxymorons are a favorite literary device of poets, particularly when they express complex feelings such as love and desire. the word nascar is an oxymoronOne-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More - Merriam-Webster 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. Oxymorons are common in everyday speech. parting is such sweet sorrow. Often, you come across words that are paired together, but maybe completely contradictory in meaning. Seriously Funny: a Celebration of the Oxymoron - Crozet Gazette Merriam-Webster defines an oxymoron as a rhetorical device in which a combination of contradictory or incongruous words is used in conjunction. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. 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. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. 'when they are silent, they cry out'), Original copy: Oxymorons that aren't | Discussion Forum | A Way with The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? 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. An oxymoron refers to a word, phrase, or use of language that seems to directly contradict itself, and it is. 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. The combining form oxy- is present in the word oxygen. 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. It even proofreads your text, so your work is extra polished wherever you write. Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)right to your inbox. 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. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. 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 - kamislots.com Ask below and we'll reply! All rights reserved. The best oxymorons emphasize contrasts, incongruities or the complex nature of reality. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. 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. This contradiction is also known as a paradox. What Is an Oxymoron? - AuthorMAG In other words, oxymorons are contradictive words or phrases used intentionally to create an effect. 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. The reader must momentarily pause to comprehend and process the meaningin other words, oxymorons make the reader think. Or plastic silverware. For some real-world examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs. What is an oxymoron? - Answers There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. The following is a list for kids who too are struggling to get the correct contradictory set of words together for an assignment or project. OXYMORON | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary My Blog the word nascar is an oxymoron 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. Slow and steady wins the race. However, an oxymoron, in its strict definition, requires that the two words be side by side, as in: "X was undergoing constant change." The phrase "The only constant is change." (the original Asimov quote), or the phrase "Change is the only constant," is best described as a simple paradox. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The word oxymoron 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. Well also provide you with an extensive list of oxymoronsso you can get a better feel for what oxymorons look and sound like. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. in a unique way thats particularly expressive. The phrasedaily night certainly features contrary wording. Oxymoron - The Complete Oxymoron List - Oxymoron.info (One, in particular, is in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, wherein combining things that contrast is an ongoing theme.) Superette might not strike you as the most obvious oxymoron. up next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. An oxymoron is a term in which two contradictory terms are combined. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis? 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. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. Learn more. The most commonly-used example of an oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp,' as a shrimp is small by definition and therefore cannot be jumbo. Below, we provide you with an extensive list of oxymorons. , 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.
