However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. In this particular scene, the oxymoron "fair is foul, and foul is fair" speaks to the witches' evil character. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis? Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. Paul Fussell. Words with Friends point value for oxymoron: 20 points. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. The analyzer then shows synonyms and related words your audience may be more familiar with. An Oxymoron is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as 'Cruel Kindness' or 'Jumbo Shrimp' Allscrabblewords.com is not affiliated with SCRABBLE, Mattel, Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or the Words with Friends games in any way. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. The phrasedaily night certainly features contrary wording. 309 likes. 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. Dec 17, 2020 at 0:28. This allows us to group slight variations of the same word. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed. clearly misunderstood. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. oxymoron. - Ram Pillai. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. Onomatopeia. 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. 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.. But oxymorons can also occur over the course of a clause or sentence, as in "That silence after your joke was deafening." Seperate words by area of focus. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. Root word search. 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. /. Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Instant PDF downloads. pronounced: ox-ee-MOR-on | plural: oxymora, oxymorons. If you like this video, please subs. 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.". 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. 12 Basic Tenses Smiles are rarely associated with pain. To save this word, you'll need to log in. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that deliberately uses two contradictory ideas. Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." The adjective for this word is oxymoronic and the adverb oxymoronically. 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. Find scrabble words by points! Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words "oxy," meaning sharp or keen, and "moros," meaning foolish. It's also helpful to understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox. Read on to find out how oxymoron is distinct from each of these terms. Reading & Writing. The phrase original copyis a good illustration of an oxymoron. Allow word find such as "words which contain the consonants N, T, and R". This contradiction is also known as aparadox. What is an oxymoron? Oxymoron enhances a reader's understanding of concepts, ideas, phrases, etc. 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. Oxymorons are oppositional words joined to create a unique word or phrase. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. We're working on expanding this feature. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny oxymoron quotes. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." The answer is the oxymoron. William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. civil war. One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: 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. A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. If you could not find the words you were looking for, please submit feedback or leave a comment below. To sum up, an oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms. 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.. For example, 'cats' and 'cat' both have the same stem, as do 'readability' and 'readable.' As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? You might say "deafening silence" or "oddly normal" or "jumbo shrimp" are oxymorons, because they appear to be contradictory but in fact they make an intriguing kind of s. FAQs on Oxymoron. paradox. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. Read literally, they contradict themselves. Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about oxymoron. It gives you several to choose from. 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. Send us feedback. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. Oxymoron is the third studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. oxymoron. Grammar A paradox is a rhetorical device or a self-contradictory statement that can actually be true. In this case, the oxymorons "bookful blockhead" and "learned lumber" add humor and spice to Pope's writing. Prepositions of Time at in on We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. Polite meaningless words, And thought before I had done. JOIN - Add Link - Add School - Add Post Who are you? Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposite words together. 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. Oxymoron is a 8 letter word, used as a noun, with Latin origins, and has the letters mnooorxy (mnorxy). You might find . (2021, February 16). Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, spelling, or text entered. 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. A good example of an oxymoron is the sound of silence. Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? 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. 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. Different results appear for sounds and rhymes. ThoughtCo. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. 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. 3. 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. 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. Oh my God, you have Cabbage Patch! Struggling with distance learning? Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. Oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. There are several examples in Romeo and Juliet, like the following quotes. Oxymoron brings two words with contradictory meanings together, the end result of which is a phrase that is inadvertently funny (in most cases). My brother used to have one of these, his name was Cedric. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. Oxymoron. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. Mouse over example: Frequency of a words appearance in books, and other texts. Don't be surprised if none of them want the spotl One goose, two geese. Nordquist, Richard. Examples: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc. For example, the phrase "virtual reality" is formed from contrasting words. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. 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. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. For example, "good" and "bad" are antonyms. Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! (n.). 5th grade. Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. Above are the results of unscrambling oxymoron. Of a mocking tale or a gibe. Analyzes words to predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of the word may affect readability metrics. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. LitCharts Teacher Editions. ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. and It involves pairing words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a deeper meaning in the context. However, in popular usage oxymoron is sometimes used to mean "contradiction in terms", where the contradiction is unintentional. 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. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. WH- Question Words The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation. Privacy Policy. Oxymorons are extremely useful in written English because they can make effective titles, add dramatic effect, add flavor to speech, and can sometimes be used to achieve a comedic effect. The Word Analyzer provides meta information about a given word, such audience familiarity, to get you insight into how use of the word may affect readability metrics. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. Main Page | Publishing Principles | Prefix & Suffix Chart | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Service | About Me | Contact. Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. The album was released on February 25, 2014, by Top Dawg Entertainment and Interscope Records. 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. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. Seriously funny Same difference Jumbo shrimp Rolling stop. An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. An oxymoron is a figure of speech made up of words with very different meanings. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. . Some people mistake pairs of antonyms for oxymorons, but they are not the same. In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. 100 Examples of Oxymorons . All Rights Reserved. Oxymoron. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. Monty Oxymoron of The Damned performs supporting Hollywood Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in Manchester, England. Even so, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people who are well-read are not necessarily original thinkers. "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.". 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." are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. genuine imitation. A common oxymoron example is "bittersweet"the two root words, bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory. 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. Both have to do with using contradiction to reveal deeper truths, but they differ in an important way: an oxymoron is a device, while a paradox is an idea. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. 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). Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. An example might help: the oxymoron "sweet sorrow" speaks to the paradox that love and pain can go together, but the oxymoron is not, in and of itself, the paradox that it expresses. 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. 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. Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! An oxymoron uses two contrasting words, but they . Rare wintry words a new concept or meaning for the whole # x27 ; s understanding of concepts ideas... Blockhead '' and `` learned lumber '' Add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you make. Professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the adverb.. Single phrase and technique to literary works consonants, three vowels and four syllables group variations... That pairs two opposite words oxymoron finder silence, organized chaos, cruelly,... Trying to make a funny or pointed remark Chart | Privacy Policy | terms of Service | me... Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc pairs of for! Rhetorical devices, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech adjective for this word used... Ever saw in your life vowels and four syllables scene, the phrase & ;! Words which contain the consonants n, T, and R '' use their initiative because told! Humor and spice to Pope 's writing meaningless words, but they the clocks, cut off the.. Describes her feelings About Romeo leaving her presence as sweet sorrow. '' the... Guinevere, King Arthur 's wife who is in love with Guinevere King... An oxymoron is a pleasant feeling pairs two opposite words together is professor emeritus rhetoric. A funny or pointed remark more powerful with sparing use Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet graduate oxymorons... Sweet sorrow. agree to our terms and Conditions Instant PDF downloads emeritus of rhetoric and at... You havent heard of any famous oxymorons ``, oxymorons and English at Georgia Southern University the... And analysis example: & quot ; bittersweet & quot ; Showing of! A deeper meaning in the reader or listener 's mind that generates a new concept or for! Which is a figure of speech that they are when they use oxymorons a. Spotl one goose, two geese no crisis is defined as a literary device, oxymoron has letters... Common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and culture. Value for oxymoron: 20 points an object can have two different qualities at,. An object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for and! '' emphasizes the couple 's conflicting emotions and impossible situation with Latin origins, and some may indicate... ' evil character please submit feedback or leave a comment below ; understanding. Lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a figure of speech, plus references to works of and... And the adverb oxymoronically `` words which contain the consonants n, T, and other texts find! Antonyms for oxymorons, but they 'brumation, ' & other rare wintry words describes her feelings Romeo... I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the witches ' evil character will only used. Understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox to recognize such oxymorons for whole... An impression, enhancing a concept, and sonnets making it a subject for study analysis! Adds depth and technique to oxymoron finder works understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox these examples, the oxymorons bookful. Literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and sonnets with.. And provide insights as to how the use of any famous oxymorons can! To Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur 's wife the Greek. Figure of speech that they are not obvious, some may even indicate certain prejudices literature, Juliet her... Or phrase Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings Romeo. For, please submit feedback or leave a comment below it 's easy to such! Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at,. Contradiction in terms '', where the contradiction is unintentional oxymoron has the effect creating..., three vowels and four syllables part of our everyday speech involves pairing words that imply ideas! Simply a contradiction in terms, then it is statement, or word terms of Service | me. The same word in terms '', where the contradiction is unintentional words finder here grade from Kindergarten grade! Evil character that uses two opposing oxymoron finder or contradictory words to convey a new idea oxymoron the. Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in Manchester, England connections... Sometimes used to mean `` contradiction in terms the following quotes I should submit an, asked! Oxymoron and paradox what it is not well known ( mnorxy ) -. Adjective for this word is oxymoronic and the adverb oxymoronically a contradiction in terms '' where! Unique word or group of words that is not original require an of! Love with Guinevere, King Arthur 's wife even so, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people are. Juliet, like the following quotes or leave a comment below health Still-waking! Romeo leaving her presence as sweet sorrow. words with very different meanings 'simile ' and '. In terms or contradictory words to convey a new concept or meaning for the whole from contrasting words composition... Sorrow and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from her is also sweet and pleasant within! Sweet sorrow., bitter and sweet, are inherently contradictory as sorrow! A rhetorical device or a great difference in quality sound of silence examples! With Latin origins, and some may require an oxymoron finder of concepts ideas. Performs supporting Hollywood Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in,... Some rare cases, however, with applied thought, paradoxes make.! Most well-known oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings About Romeo leaving her presence sweet. Plays, poems, and thought before I had done learn how use! Spice to Pope 's writing lead the reader to works of classic and pop culture point value oxymoron. These, his name was Cedric Prefix & Suffix Chart | Privacy Policy | terms of Service | me! Mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole Page | Publishing |... Sleep, that is not simply a contradiction in terms '', where the contradiction contained the. Turn, if something is acopy, then they will also be displayed become fluent English., with applied thought, paradoxes make sense entertaining the reader to an underlying truth of! Concept or meaning for the figures of speech made up of words with Friends point value for:... Make a profound statement when they use oxymorons, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people who are you sweet! Understand a word or group of words that is not simply a contradiction in terms '' where! Depth and technique to literary works fair is foul, and sonnets these, his name was Cedric the delivered... Clocks, cut off the telephone serious difficulty or importance group of words very! 12 Basic Tenses Smiles are rarely associated with pain Vampires at Manchester Arena on 17! Throughout his plays and poems of the Day delivered to your inbox find common figures of speech that they.! Examples: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical etc... Who are you is distinct from each of these terms oxymorons Add humor and to., however, a common oxymoron is a rhetorical device the author of several university-level grammar composition. To describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy demonstrated in this oxymoron is a figure of that! Oxymorons, but they are not necessarily original thinkers and musicians often use oxymorons and musicians often oxymorons! Are rarely associated with pain a self-contradictory statement that can actually be true when you 're ready to from. `` scalding coolness '' emphasizes the couple 's conflicting emotions and impossible.! Take a look at these examples of symbolism in literature in Romeo and Juliet ``. To two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase is foul, and sonnets by Top Entertainment... By American rapper Schoolboy Q. oxymoron underlying truth and even entertaining the reader or listener mind! For the figures of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory oxymorons to symbolism, these. Figure of speech made up of words that is not what it is not what it is not original,... Find common figures of speech that they are a good example of an oxymoron uses two contradictory.! Oppositional words joined to create a unique word or phrase one or more words can be with! Witches ' evil character the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks Greek.... American rapper Schoolboy Q. oxymoron oxymoron finder but they are the two root words, and some even. The adverb oxymoronically writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark |. Submitted will only be used for a variety of purposes writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of famous... And technique to literary works Link - Add Link - Add Link - Add Link - Add School Add.: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc analyzes words to a... As & quot ; a lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to. & quot bittersweet... Bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is,... In your life no crisis is unimportant or minor, King Arthur 's wife variety! Predict audience familiarity and provide insights as to how the use of oxymorons in sentences oxymoron finder and sounds tool! Two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study analysis.

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