However, if there is no figurative or underlying meaning to the phrase, it shouldnt be used as a proper oxymoron. The shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true. 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. This contradiction is also known as aparadox. 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. English Links - Study Abroad - Learning English Video Project "Poverty is a luxury I can't afford now" is handwritten on a decrepit residential wall. 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. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. In common usage, a figure of speech is a word or phrase that means something more or something other than it seems to saythe opposite of a literal expression. Here's a good one: Literary Devices | Literary Terms. sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny oxymoron quotes. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation: Good night, good night! In this poem, Auden utilizes the oxymoron juicy bone. Of course, a bone is generally considered dry and the opposite of juicy. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. "Lancelot and Elaine" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. Oxymorons can add color, humor, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways. 2023 ALLSCRABBLEWORDS.com. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined. Heres a quick and simple definition: 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. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. Paraphrasing, pronunciation, and free grammar tools. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. Paul Simon wrote the song The Sounds of Silence about the difficulty people have in communicating with one another, but the lyrics were later interpreted as a reference to the Vietnam War (a war that many would say was full of contradictions): Hello darkness, my old friend I've come to talk with you again Because a vision softly creeping Left its seeds while I was sleeping And the vision that was planted in my brain Still remains Within the sound of silence. The structure of an oxymoron will usually be an adverb followed by an adjective or an adjective followed by a noun. In this particular scene, the oxymoron "fair is foul, and foul is fair" speaks to the witches' evil character. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. A true oxymoron must be deliberately crafted in advance, with the goal of creating a rhetorical effect or revealing a deeper figurative meaning. Popular @ EnglishClub: The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. Send a word find feature request to let me know. . This first example is from the play's opening scene and it is part of a charm chanted by witches: Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. "All your perfect imperfections " - from All of Me by John Legend. That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few. 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. The best way to make money is to spend money. Delivered to your inbox! 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. ", Explanations and citation info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? If something is original,then it is not a copy. 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. These word pairings are not inherently opposite, but their individual concepts can seem contradictory when combined. Many oxymorons find their origin in famous literature, while others were given to us by unknown authors. Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, spelling, or text entered. It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. Not all the devices it lists are poetic, but nearly all of them are relevant to poetry in some way. Root word search. MyEnglishClub.com - eQuiz.Me - Tefl.NET, 1997-2023 EnglishClub.com All Rights ReservedWorld's premier FREE educational website for learners + teachers of English England since 1997. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. Juxtaposition is designed to compare or contrast, while oxymorons are a type of word play that either create a new phrase or emphasize a point using two elements. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. 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. Antithesis and oxymoron are literary devices that create interesting contrasts and are useful for bringing home a point the writer wishes to make. 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. It gives you several to choose from. Information provided is without warranty or claim of accuracy. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Grammar For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. Nordquist, Richard. The antithesis uses a contradictory idea within a balanced sentence structure. Oxymorons can enhance the drama in a text. Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. 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. The analyzer then shows synonyms and related words your audience may be more familiar with. This site is for entertainment and informational purposes only. The contradiction contained in "nakedly dressed" echoes the impossibility of the hybrids Ada draws, and more importantly, it expresses both Van's feeling that he can see into her soul despite the clothes covering her body, his yearning for her such that her clothes only suggest to him her body beneath them, and at the same time (because it's an oxymoron and the words contradict) the impossibility of the siblings' relationship. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. 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." The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." 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 contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation. Part of Speech: Noun. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example: A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical: The popular term "virtual reality" might be considered an oxymoron or pseudo-oxymoron by some but in fact it is a tautology (i.e. Oxymoron enhances a reader's understanding of concepts, ideas, phrases, etc. Consider the common oxymorons and think about times they may have been included in conversations you have had. The album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. What is next, Michael? This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Oxymoron examples. My play was a complete success. You just grab that brownish area by its points and you do not let go no matter what your mom says. Oxymoron brings two words with contradictory meanings together, the end result of which is a phrase that is inadvertently funny (in most cases). When we think of oxymorons, we often think of two-word phrases with seemingly opposite components, like "alone together" or "sweet sorrow."But in some instances, a single word is all it takes. and Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples, Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech, Figures of Speech: The Apostrophe as a Literary Device, Definition and Examples of Dialectic in Rhetoric, Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech). ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. Answer (1 of 9): Google "literary devices list with examples". Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. The fascinating story behind many people's favori Can you handle the (barometric) pressure? Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. 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 . There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." The phrase "cruel kindness" is an oxymoron. Paradox. Oxymoron is a Words with Friends word. Word Analyzer: Oxymoron. My brother used to have one of these, his name was Cedric. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. Scrabble point value for oxymoron: 20 points. Words that are antonyms have opposite meanings from one another. Oxymoron Example 2. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. genuine imitation. Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." Oxymoron examples in pop culture. Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. That's what I did just now. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. 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.) Be sure to consider context, and connotation in addition to readability when choosing an alternatitive word. Prepositions of Time at in on 1. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. Here are some common oxymorons, some of which refer to classic and pop-culture works: Alone together; A common oxymoron example is "bittersweet"the two root words, bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. Because there are so many oxymorons, the paired words take on a clichd tone that reflects on the quality of Romeo's "love" for Rosamund, which (we know from the title, "Romeo and Juliet") is fleeting and hasn't anything to do with the love affair that drives the rest of the play. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. Determining Word Rank The word rank metric is a measure of word frequency, with frequent words corresponding to higher ranks. Well . He gave me a. 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. Oxymoron is an effective literary device. Definitions Definitions of each word are generating using the Pearson's developer API. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! Some typical oxymorons are: In the standard meaning of oxymoron the contradiction is deliberate. Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." Perfect if you enjoy the oxymoron of a synonym being an antonym. oxymoron. Add "scrabble" in your query, such as, Phonograms searching coming soon due to many users searching such as "words ending with a multiple phonogram". 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. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. In order to get an accurate frequency count of each word, we utilize a stemmer to identify the morphological root form of a word. Send us feedback. Struggling with distance learning? All words/letters without a dedicated page will be unscrambled. Here is a comprehensive list of 64 examples of oxymorons in sentences. Night of the Living Dead: 1968 film. The audience was a failure. Worksheet. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. Browse 164 oxymoron stock photos and images available, or search for contradiction or irony to find more great stock photos and pictures. Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. FAQs on Oxymoron. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Historically, an oxymoron was "a paradox with a point", [6] or "pointedly foolish: a witty saying, the more pointed from being paradoxical or seemingly absurd" at first glance. Another major difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron is in their length. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron. Is this the tiny town from Footloose? Oxymoron was his first album released under a major record label to music retailers, whereas his previous albums were released independently to digital retailers only.. Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Some people mistake pairs of antonyms for oxymorons, but they are not the same. Is it starting to seem like there is an unlimited supply of oxymorons in the English language? A general meaning of "contradiction in terms" is recorded by the 1902 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. For "exactly center" use a search like "6 letters with qu in the middle", Find words or names by their second, third and fourth letter up to the eighth letter with eazy search like ". Like a paradox, an oxymoron is what's known as a "contradiction in terms," although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. Here's one more example from Romeo and Juliet. Words that really are opposite to . Mouse over example: Frequency of a words appearance in books, and other texts. Read literally, they contradict themselves. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. Frequently Asked Questions About oxymoron. Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. There are plenty more to be discovered! 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.". Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said. The cat (and its speed) speed is compared to the wind. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. Manage Settings Oxymorons are useful tools for authors and poets because they're based in contradiction, which makes them capable of describing complex or conflicting emotions. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. This page was last updated on March 01, 2023. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. 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.. It involves pairing words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a deeper meaning in the context. He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. Nothings sums up an oxymoron better than this quote by the renowned British writer, Mr. Gibbons. We then calculate word frequency using the data from Project Gutenberg which is a large collection of freely available english documents and summing the counts for all variations of the word corresponding to the same stem. Oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. Numbers Chart 1-100 freezer burn. 309 likes. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. Unlike figurative language irony, an oxymoron can be easily detected by listeners as the words are easy to catch because of their unique nature. An oxymoron can seem absurd yet make perfect sense at the same time. Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader.

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