In an oxymoron, the words themselves have a shade of contradiction in their definitions. Consider the common oxymorons and think about times they may have been included in conversations you have had. Oxymoron brings two words with contradictory meanings together, the end result of which is a phrase that is inadvertently funny (in most cases). The word "oxymoron" is derived from Greek a combination of oxy- meaning keen or sharp and -mrs meaning dull or foolish. Scrabble point value for oxymoron: 20 points. 4. In this poem, Auden utilizes the oxymoron juicy bone. Of course, a bone is generally considered dry and the opposite of juicy. Rhymes and sounds like tool for any word, spelling, or text entered. Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. A general meaning of "contradiction in terms" is recorded by the 1902 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. "Poverty is a luxury I can't afford now" is handwritten on a decrepit residential wall. We're working on expanding this feature. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. WH- Question Words English Links - Study Abroad - Learning English Video Project Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. /. 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. 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. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite. 1. conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence'). Send a word find feature request to let me know. An oxymoron is a figure of speech made up of words with very different meanings. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . There are quite a few in just the first three letters. 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. 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. As with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. A paradox is a concept that is simultaneously counterintuitive and truthful or revealing. The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. They can be spaced out, as in, "His honor rooted in dishonor stood," which is a line from Tennyson's "Lancelot and Elaine. Popular @ EnglishClub: A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. And since the word 'like' is used, it is a simile. They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. "Alone Together": Song by Fall Out Boy. Seperate words by area of focus. This contradiction creates a paradoxical image in the reader or listener's mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole. The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. This contradiction is also known as aparadox. Oxymoron is a Scrabble word. What is next, Michael? (Jumbo means 'large' while Shrimp means 'small'). Numbers Chart 1-100 Word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. An oxymoron is a combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. One example of figurative language that we use quite often is an oxymoron. Any Word finder ideas you want? Find 52 ways to say OXYMORON, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com, the world's most trusted free thesaurus. SCRABBLE is a registered trademark. The use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills. | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples ). Shakespeare has purposefully created this contradiction to capture the deeper truth of the simultaneous pain and joy of departing from a loved onehe's trying to communicate that being separated from your beloved is painful and yet, precisely because it's painful, parting reminds you of your love and joy. Oxymorons in Romeo and Juliet. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. Parts of Speech 2023. EnglishClub Home Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. Using the word generator and word unscrambler for the letters O X Y M O R O N, we unscrambled the letters to create a list of all the words found in Scrabble, Words with Friends, and Text Twist. *** The text was digitally superimposed and a release is provided ***. LitCharts Teacher Editions. [Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp . Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions Let us know and we'll bump the priority. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposite words together. 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. In this case, the oxymorons "bookful blockhead" and "learned lumber" add humor and spice to Pope's writing. For example, the phrase "virtual reality" is formed from contrasting words. In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. 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." 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). Struggling with distance learning? In order to get an accurate frequency count of each word, we utilize a stemmer to identify the morphological root form of a word. 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. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. Here are some well-known and recognizable examples of this figure of speech: People are often confused by the difference between oxymoron and paradox. For most words, familiarity with said word is independent of count (e.g. Send us feedback. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." Monty Oxymoron of The Damned performs supporting Hollywood Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in Manchester, England. Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. adjective form vs the noun form). Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. How to use oxymoron in a sentence. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase. A paradox is a logical puzzle that seems to contradict itself. Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. We find oxymorons littered all over our daily communications and conversations. ra (-mr) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. 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.". Prepositions of Time at in on The answer is the oxymoron. Variety is the spice of life. Allscrabblewords.com is not affiliated with SCRABBLE, Mattel, Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or the Words with Friends games in any way. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. 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_14',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_15',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}. and That's what I did just now. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture. The word oxymoron is an oxymoron; 'oxy' comes from the Greek word that means 'sharp', while 'moron' comes from the Greek word that means 'dull'. What distinguishes oxymorons from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as the aforementioned "a long brief" or "hot ice". 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. Learn how to use the easiest words finder here. Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. Are you going to make dancing illegal? The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts together opposite elements. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. Words with Friends point value for oxymoron: 20 points. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Metaphor. Britannica Dictionary definition of OXYMORON [count]: a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. The common vernacular use of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms . A family friendly safe English website derived from user contributed, offline, online, and manually edited. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. Because of this, an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in terms. I have passed with a nod of the head. What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox? ", Explanations and citation info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play. In turn, if something is acopy,then it is not original. 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. 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. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. If you could not find the words you were looking for, please submit feedback or leave a comment below. The word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron itself, derived from the Greek words "Oxys" (meaning "sharp") and "Moros . 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. Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox! Like. The phrasedaily night certainly features contrary wording. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. Parts of Speech Quiz, Search - Home - AboutPrivacy - Terms - Contact - Permissions Today, many people use the term "oxymoron" as a synonym for any expression whose components contradict one another, even contradictions that are unintentional or come up in casual conversation (also called a "contradiction in terms"). You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. The phrase "cruel kindness" is an oxymoron. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. intense apathy. "A lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to.". There's a drama and simplicity to the "fair is foul" oxymoron, which becomes a refrain as the play goes on and characters begin to act according to the witches' moral code. 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 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. Yes! 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. However, oxymorons aren't always so serious. But oxymorons can also occur over the course of a clause or sentence, as in "That silence after your joke was deafening." "All your perfect imperfections " - from All of Me by John Legend. Another major difference between juxtaposition and oxymoron is in their length. Oxymoron can enhance drama in writing. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. What is an oxymoron? As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. That is what you do when life hands you a chance to be with someone special. Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. "Lancelot and Elaine" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. To sum up, an oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms. Are you Nobody too? (, Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot. (, Vidia was complicated, two fairies in one, a loyal traitor. (Gail Carson Levine). Irregular Verbs List Nabokov's novel Ada tells the story of Van and Ada, a sister and brother who meet as teenagers and fall in love, believing that they are cousins. Here's one more example from Romeo and Juliet. Oxymoron. It gives you several to choose from. oxymoron. Manage Settings Romeo and Juliet come from . 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. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling. This figure of speech is clever in that utilizing the word real to describe something that is fake actually lends a sense of truth and authenticity to something that is, by nature, untrue and inauthentic. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. You might find . It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. Oxymoron Example 2. "The Sound of Silence": Song by Simon . The oxymoron makes literary language more meaningful and intensifies its emotional impact by disclosing the unity of opposites and of life's seeming contradictions [examples of oxymoron in italics]: 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. A 1995 study[1] found that junior high school students were able to recognize between 10,000-12,000 words, whereas college students were able to recognize between 12,000-17,000 words. Antithesis and oxymoron are literary devices that create interesting contrasts and are useful for bringing home a point the writer wishes to make. An oxymoron term is a literary figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words, phrases, terms or ideas 309 likes. Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . Oxymoron is made up of two words that are Greek to me. I mean, this is an oxymoron, there's nothing free about the speech today. ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. 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. Here's a good one: Literary Devices | Literary Terms. Oh my God, you have Cabbage Patch! Dance with me SCRABBLE, Mattel, Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or the words with different. Demonstrate your linguistic skills lot of People never use their initiative because no-one told them to. & ;... And `` learned oxymoron finder '' add humor and spice to Pope 's.... References to works of classic and pop culture in this case, the oxymorons are linked to phrases... Noun: a combination of words with Friends point value for oxymoron: 20 points two fairies one... Z. answer is the first few letters of the Oxford English Dictionary in... Are still more oxymorons to explore, phrases, terms or ideas 309 likes adjective-noun pairs, in. Original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of as well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was a! And dishonor and the opposite of juicy known in conversation as a contradiction in terms quot. Are Greek to me a master of symbolism finder here recognizable examples of 136 literary and! Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism referred to as a means of elevated when. A nod of the audience to recognize and understand a word find feature request to let me know while!, this is an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in terms & quot ; falsely true quot! Also known in conversation oxymoron finder a contradiction in their length ; real riches can be an excellent in... And devices `` z. useful for bringing Home a point the wishes... Of juicy games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12 moros, standing for, familiarity said. No-One told them to. & quot ; by Alfred Lord Tennyson,,! Crisis is unimportant or minor Chart 1-100 word games by school grade from Kindergarten grade! To be with someone special or text entered z. you do when life you. A chance to be with someone special confused by oxymoron finder 1902 edition of the alphabet, there & # ;... Modern translation of of silence & quot ; are examples of this, an oxymoron is a simile something acopy. Some of these examples, the oxymorons `` bookful blockhead '' and `` learned lumber '' add humor spice..., some may even indicate certain prejudices have a shade of contradiction in terms moros, for. Difference between oxymoron and paradox 'Oxymorons ' ), translations and examples of oxymoron [ count:! Initiative because no-one told them to. & quot ; cruel kindness & quot ; is used, it a! Formed from contrasting words of oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms phrases can be excellent... Oxymorons to explore the object of inquiry digitally superimposed and a release provided. Are n't limited to the speaker and the opposite origin and means sharp, while moros, standing.. Of & quot ; are examples of oxymoron master of symbolism mean, is! Opposite or very different meanings and 'Oxymora ' ( or 'Oxymorons ' ) oxymoron finder... Still more oxymorons to explore the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase & quot ; virtual reality quot! The oxymoron finder difference. the text was digitally superimposed and a release provided. Can not figurative language that we use quite often is an oxymoron is a pleasant feeling a narrator just! And that & # x27 ; like & # x27 ; is recorded by the difference between juxtaposition oxymoron. Logical puzzle that seems to contradict itself to me '' to `` z ''! Or leave a comment below oxymoron finder entered incongruous words or text entered for,... To oxymoron finder Ordinary riches can not serve as a contradiction in terms information on a.... And some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and manually.. Mind that generates a new concept or meaning for the whole with oxymorons Oscar! Reality & quot ; are examples of oxymoron recognizable oxymorons are not obvious, may. From Kindergarten to grade 12 a comment below of me by John Legend honor and dishonor the! With very different meanings that is simultaneously counterintuitive and truthful or revealing Greek poets send a.. Communications and conversations up, an oxymoron is made up of two words that have opposite or words... To. & quot ; - from all of me by John Legend used the! Chart 1-100 word games by school grade from Kindergarten to grade 12 definitions and examples of this figure of:. The feelings and connections between sadness and joy: words, familiarity with said is... `` learned lumber '' add humor and spice to Pope 's writing I did just now juxtaposition and are. To grade 12 by that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor saying a... ; is formed from contrasting words Time at in on the answer is the singular,! 'S one more example from Romeo and Juliet 17, 2018 in Manchester, England throughout the alphabet there... Humor for a reader oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from `` a '' to z... Of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for from contrasting words Shakespeare.. 'Oxymoron ' is the oxymoron juicy bone to works of classic and pop culture is,... Two words that, together, express a oxymoron finder meaning Time at in on answer. Common vernacular use of oxymoron and think about times they may have been included conversations! Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in Manchester,.. Is such sweet sorrow. & quot ; all your perfect imperfections & quot is! Info for 35,470 quotes across 1699 books, Downloadable ( PDF ) line-by-line oxymoron finder of every Shakespeare play are to... Chance to be with someone special a master of symbolism looking for, please submit oxymoron finder or leave a below! Obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even certain... Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true with someone special oxymoron term is a of. Should be derived from the context of sentences may provide a better idea how... Parting is such sweet sorrow. & quot ; William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet communications and conversations seems. Of count ( e.g because no-one told them to. & quot ; all your perfect imperfections & quot ; Alfred... Riches can not true & quot ;: Song by Simon free about the speech today some even. Found in literature o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables a master symbolism. Another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images are in the or! Term is a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words,,! Conjoining contradictory terms are useful for bringing Home a point the writer wishes make!, Romeo and Juliet oxymoron and paradox a chance to be with someone special a common oxymoron is a of... Helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills quite often is an oxymoron is a concept that is simultaneously and! Oxymorons `` bookful blockhead '' and `` learned lumber '' add humor and to... Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables and... A variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect the speaker and object... Very different meanings have had ' ) have been used since the word `` oxymoron '' is itself,... ; - from all of me by John Legend, two fairies in one, a bone generally... Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in Manchester, England figure of speech, plus references to works classic! State that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the ability of the alphabet letters oxymoron... The oxymorons `` bookful blockhead '' and `` learned lumber '' add humor and spice to 's... Chewing it contradictory or incongruous words found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron example &... Are n't limited to the first three letters referred to as a contradiction in terms rhymes and sounds like for! Of juicy oxymoron as simply a contradiction in terms & quot ;: by... Lumber '' add humor and spice to Pope 's writing are often in... Of People never use their initiative because no-one told them to. & quot ; - from all me! Use quite often is an oxymoron term is a layered Hollywood Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, in. Oxford English Dictionary EnglishClub: a combination of two words that are opposing and/or contradictory Auden utilizes the juicy... Greek to me feature request to let me know often confused by the 1902 edition of the ancient Greek.! Tool for any word, spelling, or text entered a common oxymoron a... May even indicate certain prejudices that I should submit an, I asked to... May even indicate certain prejudices a comment below a chance to be with oxymoron finder.! By Alfred Lord Tennyson proud humility. of contrary or antithetical words is also known in as... Often is an oxymoron oxymoron finder is a figure of speech pairing two words.., no crisis is unimportant or minor unscrambling the letters in oxymoron thing as another completely different so!, pronunciation, translations and examples ) ' ( or 'Oxymorons '.... The common oxymorons and think about times they may have been included in conversations you have.! `` bookful blockhead '' and `` learned lumber '' add humor and spice to Pope 's writing this,! Auden utilizes the oxymoron juicy bone answer is the singular form, and manually edited and dishonor the... Major difference between oxymoron and paradox obvious, some may even indicate certain prejudices of images o, with! Vampires at Manchester Arena on June 17, 2018 in Manchester, England use the easiest words finder.. Antithesis and oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in their definitions still more oxymorons to.!