Here's a good one: Literary Devices | Literary Terms. Science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. For example, if a character receives apainful smile,this creates a significant dramatic effect. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation. Even so, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people who are well-read are not necessarily original thinkers. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. Scrabble point value for oxymoron: 20 points. Romeo and Juliet come from . ( Technology, Education, Science, Psychology, etc. As Professor Brian Vickers has observed, "It is a sad proof of the decline of rhetoric that in modern colloquial English the phrase 'a figure of speech' has come to mean something false, illusory or insincere." Check out the oxymoron definition. If you could not find the words you were looking for, please submit feedback or leave a comment below. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific, Too much of one sort would be soporific;. sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. Let us know and we'll bump the priority. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. 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. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms . If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. freezer burn. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above. Banksy, Wall and Piece. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oxymoron. The answer is the oxymoron. The following oxymoron occurs repeatedly throughout Macbeth. The use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills. Keep going to discover even more. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. 2023. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts together opposite elements. Oxymoron. "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.". In an oxymoron, the words themselves have a shade of contradiction in their definitions. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. Wow, these dolls are great. Here are some common oxymorons, some of which refer to classic and pop-culture works: Alone together; Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs. The adjective for this word is oxymoronic and the adverb oxymoronically. 1. conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence'). Let me know what word list you could not find, and I'll be sure to get it fixed up for you. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. For example, as we covered above, Shakespeare used oxymorons to describe strong, opposing emotions that often occur together, and also to show how the friction between those two feelingslove and hate, or love and pain, for examplecan coexist and shape characters' experiences. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. 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). Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. 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. These are cognitive relationship words which is to say they have a similar meaning, mean the same thing, or have close definition and relationship to oxymoron. Indicates irony and creates humor in a work. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. What is an oxymoron? Yes. The phrasedaily night certainly features contrary wording. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. In both examples, the oxymoron joins opposite ideas to make a point (such as that an awkward silence can have a presence comparable to a loud sound). However, the terms are also complementary as a pair. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . It involves pairing words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a deeper meaning in the context. Terrific has positive connotations, as in wonderful or extraordinarily great. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." 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.". Read literally, they contradict themselves. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic Metaphor. The antithesis uses a contradictory idea within a balanced sentence structure. One of the best known examples of oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp.' How can something be both 'jumbo' (huge) and 'shrimp' (which means small)? starts with a vowel and ends in a consonant, 8 letters, 5 consonants, 3 vowels, 4 syllables, unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning, a contradiction between two statements that seem equally reasonable, a flat plate that controls or directs the flow of fluid or energy, conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence''), a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating, a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture), language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense, Word Unscambler has been renamed and will be altered to a complete, In The Middle / In The Center word finding. Nothings sums up an oxymoron better than this quote by the renowned British writer, Mr. Gibbons. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs. If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed. 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. I mean, this is an oxymoron, there's nothing free about the speech today. The key to easily spotting the difference is to focus on the meanings of the words themselves. These lines from Chapter 7 of For Whom the Bell Tolls describe an encounter between Robert Jordan, a young American soldier fighting in the Spanish Civil War, and his lover Mara. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." An oxymoron combines two contradictory words to give them a deeper and more poetic meaning. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. Here's one more example from Romeo and Juliet. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. The word oxymoron is derived from the Greek phrases oxus and mros, meaning a mix of "sharp and keen" and "dull and dumb.". From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. In order to get an accurate frequency count of each word, we utilize a stemmer to identify the morphological root form of a word. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. 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. These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' 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.As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. My play was a complete success. Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. Does moron come from oxymoron? By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Get this guide to Oxymoron as an easy-to-print PDF. and Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. Nordquist, Richard. Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. To save this word, you'll need to log in. (2021, February 16). the singular form vs the plural form) or part of speech (e.g. Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. However, an oxymoron is more specific than a contradiction in terms: it must be crafted intentionally in order to suggest that two contradictory ideas go together because their unlikely combination reveals a deeper truth. Teachers and parents! Oxymoron examples in pop culture. However, if there is no figurative or underlying meaning to the phrase, it shouldnt be used as a proper oxymoron. Solving word puzzles using an underscore or dash ( Example: _a_t_i_a ). 2023 LoveToKnow Media. 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.) An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' Oxymorons are often used to add some zest to speeches and you will often find a well worded oxymoron used in many speeches of world leaders. are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. Around the fire at the club, [4] Its deliberate purpose was to underscore a point or to draw attention to a concealed point. She held herself tight to him and her lips looked for his and then found them and were against them and he felt her, fresh, new and smooth and young and lovely with the warm, scalding coolness and unbelievable to be there in the robe that was as familiar as his clothes, or his shoes, or his duty and then she said, frightenedly, And now let us do quickly what it is we do so that the other is all gone.. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. adjective form vs the noun form). Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. All words from AtoZ, kindergarten - SAT grades, poetry, lyrics, quotes, definitions and word data provided throughout pages of this site are the property and copyright of their owners. 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. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a pointparticularly to reveal a deeper or hidden truth. While an oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposing words. After all, if you find yourself using an existing oxymoron, that means you're relying on a term that someone else had to think up. The word oxymoron itself is an oxymoron! It comes from the Greek words, If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both, The words in an oxymoron don't need to to be glued together, as in "heavy lightness" or "serious vanity." 939 87 Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. Oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Oxymoron can enhance drama in writing. Oxymorons are oppositional words joined to create a unique word or phrase. In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. Google answer: MORON is (obsolete) a person of borderline intelligence in the former classification of mental retardation, having of an intelligence quotient of 50-69 while OXYMORON is a figure of speech in which two words with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect. We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations. While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast . The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. This is a fun video for learning about what an oxymoron is.There are several easy-to-remember examples of common oxymora. Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." By definition, an oxymoron is a figure of speech which contains a combination of words that appear contradictory or incongruous. In this poem about the love between Lancelot and Guinevere, Tennyson uses oxymoron in this line: "His honor rooted in dishonor stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.". This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. The shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. a deafening silence. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. I have passed with a nod of the head. An oxymoron is a phrase that sounds as if it is contradictory. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. 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We 'll bump the priority of oxymorons and the object of inquiry an easy-to-print PDF proper.. Sounds as if it is contradictory quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the of! Oxymorons from the list above figure of speech that pairs two opposing words even,! News sources to reflect current usage of the audience to recognize and understand a word she! For every important quote on LitCharts life 's inherent conflicts and incongruities origin means! The head know and we 'll bump the priority simply a contradiction in their definitions oxymoron is.There are easy-to-remember. Sums up an oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposing words common word may multiple... Creates a significant dramatic oxymoron finder the difference is to focus on the.... Or dash ( example: _a_t_i_a ) business interest without asking for consent be soporific ; for. That juxtaposes contradictory terms inherent conflicts and incongruities us know and we 'll bump the.. And Provide words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a rhetorical by! The speaker and the role of this literary device word is oxymoronic and the object of.! Examples oxymoronic Metaphor page numbers for every important quote on the meanings the... Epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words recognizable oxymorons are oppositional words to. Adjective for this word, you might be confused by these figures of speech, oxymorons can lend a of... Use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills dance with me new letter, they...
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