oxymoron examples figures of speech

Definition of Oxymoron

Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader.

The phrase original copy  is a good illustration of an oxymoron. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. If something is original,  then it is not a copy. In turn, if something is a  copy,  then it is not original. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original.

Common Examples of Oxymoron

Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression:

• Only choice
• Same difference
• Friendly fire
• Virtual reality
• Controlled chaos
• Freezer burn
• Silent scream
• Terribly good
• Close distance
• Stiff drink
• Black light
• Clearly confused
• Genuine fake
• Living history
• Exact estimate
• Student teacher
• Passive aggressive
• Smaller half
• Magical realism
• Loyal opponent
• Random Order
• Live recording
• Jumbo shrimp

Usage of Oxymoron in Speech or Writing

Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation:

• My sister and I had a friendly fight over the lipstick.
• I think the professor stated his unbiased opinion  regarding the student response.
• You look awfully pretty in that coat.
• Sarah ate the whole piece of pie.
• The carpenters left the bench completely unfinished .
• The new kittens enjoyed being Alone together .
• True fiction is my favorite genre to read.
• It is considered a false truth that a broken mirror means bad luck.
• Joe considers himself to be a ladies’ man  when he’s at a club.
• Jenny thinks of her garage as an organized mess.

Famous Oxymorons

Think you haven’t heard of any famous oxymorons? Here are some well-known and recognizable examples of this figure of speech:

• Little Bighorn Battlefield (national monument in Montana)
• “True Lies” (American film)
• “CatDog” (American animated television series)
• “Pretty Ugly” (book by Kirker Butler)
• “Big Little Lies” (book by Liane Moriarty, adapted into television series for HBO)
• “Quotes from a Devout Atheist” (compilation book of Richard Dawkins quotes)
• “Waking Dream” (American documentary film)
• “Steel Magnolias” (American stage play by Robert Harling)
• “You can’t have more types of fake news than real news.” (Elon Musk)
• “ I am a deeply superficial person.” (Andy Warhol)
• “I’m nobody! Who are you? Are you – Nobody – too?” ( Emily Dickinson )
• “Cruel kindness drew me near and held me close” (InsideOut song lyric )
• “Ordinary riches can be stolen; real riches cannot.” ( Oscar Wilde )
• “… this was fancy terrible.” ( Dorothy Parker )
• “Vidia was complicated, two fairies in one, a loyal traitor.” (Gail Carson Levine)

Difference Between Oxymoron and Paradox

People are often confused by the difference between oxymoron and paradox . Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. One example of a paradox is the following conflicting idea.  The best way to make money is to spend money .

Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a “condensed” paradox. 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. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true.

Writing Oxymoron

Overall, as a literary device, oxymoron functions as a means of getting the reader’s attention through the pairing of opposing or contradictory words. Reading these words together will often cause a reader to pause and think about what the writer is trying to convey. These figures of speech can enhance a reader’s understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language.

Here are instances in which it’s effective to use oxymoron in writing:

Demonstrate Linguistic Skill

Since most people don’t use oxymoron very often when speaking, it does take linguistic skill to create one that is successful. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory won’t make for an effective oxymoron. The phrase  daily night certainly features contrary wording. However, if there is no figurative or underlying meaning to the phrase, it shouldn’t be used as a proper oxymoron. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader.

One example of a skillful oxymoron is  real fake.  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. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered.  Real fake is a combination of contradictory terms. However, the terms are also complementary as a pair.

Enhance Drama

Oxymoron can enhance drama in writing. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. For example, if a character receives a  painful smile,  this creates a significant dramatic effect. Smiles are rarely associated with pain. Therefore, the reader is left in some suspense to wonder what events or feelings would result in such a response received by the character.

However, it’s important that writers don’t overuse oxymoron as a literary device. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use.

Create Humor

Oxymoron can be an excellent tool in creating humor for a reader. For example, if a character is described as a man child , this oxymoron calls up a humorous image of a child that looks like a man or vice-versa. 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.

Indicate Irony

Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony . For example, oxymoron phrases such as marital bliss, military intelligence,  and  business ethics,  depending on how they are used as figures of speech, can be effective literary devices to indicate irony. These word pairings are not inherently opposite, but their individual concepts can seem contradictory when combined.

Examples of Oxymoron in Literature

Oxymoron is an effective literary device. Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation:

Example #1: Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare)

Good night, good night! parting is such sweet sorrow , That I shall say good night till it be morrow.

In perhaps the most well-known oxymoron in literature, Juliet describes her feelings about Romeo leaving her presence as “sweet sorrow.” Shakespeare’s use of oxymoron indicates that Juliet’s “sorrow” and sadness at the thought that Romeo must part from her is also “sweet” and pleasant. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. However, she lovingly anticipates seeing him again which is a pleasant feeling.

Example #2:  Don Juan  (George Gordon, Lord Byron)

It is an awful topic–but ‘t is not My cue for any time to be terrific: For checker’d as is seen our human lot With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific Of melancholy merriment, to quote Too much of one sort would be soporific;– Without, or with, offence to friends or foes, I sketch your world exactly as it goes.

In this poem , Lord Byron uses the oxymoron “melancholy merriment” to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. This oxymoron is symbolic of the human condition as reflected in the poet’s mention of “our human lot.” In addition, this oxymoron supports and complements the balance of oppositions featured in the rest of the poem’s structure, such as good and bad, without or with, and friends or foes.

Example #3:  Funeral Blues (W.H. Auden)

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone, Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone, Silence the pianos and with muffled drum Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

In this poem, Auden utilizes the oxymoron “juicy bone.” Of course, a bone is generally considered dry and the opposite of juicy. However, a bone may seem juicy to a dog that is salivating at the thought of chewing it. Also, this oxymoron is ironic in the context of a poem in which a funeral is the subject . The “juicy bone” is a contrast in its own phrasing, as well as a contrasting image with the coffin and the implied corpse’s bones inside.

Example #4:  The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)

I’m the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.

Salinger uses an oxymoron in this quote by Holden Caulfield, the narrator of the novel . The phrase “terrific liar” pairs two words that have opposing connotations . “Terrific” has positive connotations, as in wonderful or extraordinarily great. However, “liar” has negative connotations, as in someone who is untruthful or deceptive. Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lying–a behavior that is generally associated with indignity.

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. Through the phrase “terrific liar,” Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that he’s extraordinarily great at being so. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holden’s reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. If Holden’s 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.

Related posts:

• Romeo and Juliet Oxymoron
• Huge List of Oxymorons
• Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

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Oxymoron Definition

What is an oxymoron? Here’s 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 point—particularly to reveal a deeper or hidden truth. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility." But oxymorons can also occur over the course of a clause or sentence, as in "That silence after your joke was deafening." 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).

Some additional key details about oxymorons:

• The word "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron. It comes from the Greek words oskús , meaning sharp or keen, and morōs meaning dull or foolish.
• If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both oxymorons and oxymora are correct. Oxymorons is now more common in print than oxymora, but you'll find the latter listed in most dictionaries.
• The words in an oxymoron don't need to to be glued together, as in "heavy lightness" or "serious vanity." They can be spaced out, as in, "His honor rooted in dishonor stood," which is a line from Tennyson's "Lancelot and Elaine."

How to Pronounce Oxymoron

Here's how to pronounce oxymoron: ahk-see- mor -on

Oxymoron vs. Related Terms

Oxymoron is often confused with other related terms, such as "contradiction in terms," "paradox," and "antonym." Read on to find out how oxymoron is distinct from each of these terms.

Oxymoron vs. Contradiction in Terms

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"). 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.

For example, someone might (wrongly) call the phrase "business ethics" an oxymoron, simply to make the claim that business is always unethical. However, while it's possible to argue that "business ethics" is a contradiction in terms, the phrase is not an oxymoron. The beauty of an oxymoron is that it deliberately combines two words or ideas that contradict one another, not simply to point out how those ideas don't fit, but for the purpose of showing that a contradiction actually does make sense or reveal a deeper meaning.

For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." Shakespeare has purposefully created this contradiction to capture the deeper truth of the simultaneous pain and joy of departing from a loved one—he'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.

To sum up, an oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms. A true oxymoron must be deliberately crafted in advance, with the goal of creating a rhetorical effect or revealing a deeper figurative meaning.

Oxymoron vs. Paradox

It's also helpful to understand the relationship between oxymoron and paradox. 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.

A paradox is a concept that is simultaneously counterintuitive and truthful or revealing. Thus, an oxymoron might be a configuration of words that expresses a paradox, but the oxymoron is not, itself, the paradox. 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.

Oxymorons vs. Antonyms

Words that are antonyms have opposite meanings from one another. For example, "good" and "bad" are antonyms. Some people mistake pairs of antonyms for oxymorons, but they are not the same.

• Oxymorons take two contradictory words or ideas and bring them together to create a single, deeper meaning. The oxymoron "darkness visible," for instance, captures the sense of darkness being not just the lack of light, but also a tangible, terrible thing.
• Antonym pairs—such as good and bad, light and dark, or strong and weak—do not create a new, deeper meaning. Instead, each pair of words describes a range of possible traits on a spectrum, such as from good to bad, or from light to dark.

Oxymoron Examples

Oxymoron in prose.

Oxymorons can add color, humor, and meaning to language in all sorts of ways. Oxymorons are useful tools for authors and poets because they're based in contradiction, which makes them capable of describing complex or conflicting emotions.

Oxymoron in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Shakespeare used a great many oxymorons in his plays. Here's one more example from Romeo and Juliet . In these lines from Act 1, Scene 1, Romeo tells his cousin Benvolio about his feelings for a woman named Rosamund who doesn't love him back:

O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this.

This cascade of oxymorons, placed one after the other, heightens the contrast between Romeo's idea of love and what he's actually experiencing. Because there are so many oxymorons, the paired words take on a clichéd 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.

Oxymoron in Shakespeare's Macbeth

The following oxymoron occurs repeatedly throughout Macbeth . 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.

In this particular scene, the oxymoron "fair is foul, and foul is fair" speaks to the witches' evil character. They have an inverted moral code that values "the foul" and dislikes "the fair." On top of establishing the witches' cruelty, the line is also a signal to the audience to be on guard throughout the play—a warning that characters who seem fair may be foul, and vice versa. 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.

Oxymoron in Vladimir Nabokov's Ada

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. In this example, Nabokov describes Ada, seen through Van's eyes, absorbed in one of her favorite activities:

On those relentlessly hot July afternoons, Ada liked to sit on a cool piano stool of ivoried wood at a white-oilcloth'd table in the sunny music room, her favorite botanical atlas open before her, and copy out in color on creamy paper some singular flower...Or else she combined one species with another (unrecorded but possible), introducing odd little changes and twists that seemed almost morbid in so young a girl so nakedly dressed.

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. 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. 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.

Oxymoron in Ernest Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls

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 María.

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.”

The couple's relationship becomes a bright spot for both of them in the midst of war, but ultimately also a source of pain and confusion for Jordan, as he struggles to balance his obligation to fight with his desire to live happily by Maria's side. The contradiction contained within the oxymoron "scalding coolness" emphasizes the couple's conflicting emotions and impossible situation.

Oxymoron Examples in Poetry and Song Lyrics

Oxymoron in alfred lord tennyson's "lancelot and elaine":.

The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. In the poem, Lancelot is tempted by another woman, but he remains "true" to Guinevere.

The shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.

The sequence of oxymorons in this example (honour/dishonour, "faith unfaithful," "falsely true") emphasizes the contrast between Lancelot's "faithful" love for Guinevere, and the fact that his relationship with Guinevere makes them both unfaithful to Arthur.

Oxymoron in "The Sounds of Silence" by Simon and Garfunkel:

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

Why Do Writers Use Oxymorons?

Some of the greatest truths lie in contradiction, and oxymoron is one of the best figures of speech for expressing contradiction. 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 feelings—love and hate, or love and pain, for example—can coexist and shape characters' experiences. However, oxymorons aren't always so serious. The following example is from Alexander Pope's poem, "Essay on Criticism":

The bookful blockhead ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head, With his own tongue still edifies his ears, And always list’ning to himself appears.

In this case, the oxymorons "bookful blockhead" and "learned lumber" add humor and spice to Pope's writing. Even so, Pope uses oxymoron to emphasize that people who are well-read are not necessarily original thinkers.

Other Helpful Oxymoron Resources

• The Wikipedia Page on Oxymoron: A very thorough explanation which also discusses the use of oxymorons for comedic effect.
• The Dictionary Definition of Oxymoron: A basic definition and etymology of the term.
• Oxymoron List: An extensive list of oxymorons and paradoxes, also the online home-base for an international community of oxymoron-lovers. Note: many of these examples are actually contradictions in terms and not actual oxymorons, but it's still a helpful resource if you pick and choose carefully.

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50 Examples of Oxymorons

Krystal N. Craiker

Do you know what an oxymoron is? No, it's not an insult!

An oxymoron is a common rhetorical device that combines two or more words with contradictory meanings into a single phrase.

They appear in literature and pop culture, and you probably use them all the time in your day-to-day life.

Today, we are taking a deep dive into the definition of this literary device . We'll also take a look at many fun and often funny examples of oxymorons.

What Is an Oxymoron?

What are examples of oxymorons, what's the difference between oxymoron and paradox, what's the difference between oxymoron and irony, what's the difference between oxymoron and antithesis, what are some examples of oxymorons in literature, what are some examples of oxymorons in pop culture.

An oxymoron is a combination of words, typically just two words, with contradictory meanings. Even though the two words are often antonyms (words with opposite meanings), they don't negate each other.

However, if you think too hard about the meaning, you'll realize that on the surface it doesn't quite make sense.

When these words are combined, they create a figure of speech with a whole new meaning.

The word oxymoron is derived from a late-Greek word. In Greek, oxys means sharp or keen, and moros means foolish or dull. Together, oxymoros meant "pointedly foolish".

Now that we know the definition of oxymoron , let's take a look at some examples.

There are many oxymoron examples that you might come across in your everyday life. If you enjoy seafood, you might have tried jumbo shrimp .

Shrimp means small and jumbo means large, but when they are combined, this oxymoron just refers to larger-than-average shrimp.

When you order your jumbo shrimp, you might hope that there is an open bar .

This oxymoron means unlimited free drinks, but, by definition, a bar keeps something closed off—the opposite of open.

Have you ever played on an Oculus Rift? It's a virtual reality system.

Virtual reality is an oxymoron because "virtual" implies that something isn't real, but reality implies that it is. Together, these words mean a very realistic virtual world.

An elderly woman might talk about her adult children who live in a mobile home .

If you're in school to become an educator, you might have to spend a semester as a student teacher .

Or if you would prefer to get your master's degree, you'll be a graduate student .

My high school mascot was a stallion, so our female athletes were called the Lady Stallions . If you didn't know, a stallion refers to a male horse.

You might eat vegan bacon and fresh frozen fruit when you take a working vacation . Just try not to get freezer burn .

Even if you're a wise fool you can show real potential .

Maybe you've told a joke only to get deafening silence in response.

You'll also find examples in history and current events. You'll have definitely heard some in everyday conversation.

Countries engage in civil war or fight holy wars to defend those with blue blood .

On the nightly news, you might hear about an escaped prisoner or a controversy with a foreign national .

Perhaps a soldier was killed by friendly fire . Some of the stories might even be old news !

As a kid, you might have attended a slumber party where you played practical jokes on your friends.

You probably tried to act natural so no one would know what you were up to. We just hope you were never an uninvited guest !

As you can see, there are tons of oxymorons in our lexicon. Here are a few more for your list:

• Same difference
• Terrible beauty
• Only choice
• Honest thief
• Silent scream
• Minor crisis
• Small crowd

Can you think of any other examples?

Do Oxymoron and Cliché Mean the Same?

Many oxymorons are so commonly used that they have become cliché. However, oxymorons themselves are not automatically clichés.

While they can be effective if used intentionally, clichés can make your writing feel stale and unimaginative.

ProWritingAid's Cliché check can help you identify them as they are easily overlooked.

In the below example, perhaps I could have said "aristocrats" or "high born", which both convey an identical meaning without being clichéd.

Try the Cliché Report with a free ProWritingAid account.

What Is an Oxymoron in Literature?

Oxymorons are often used in literature. As a literary device they can serve many functions. They can be used for emphasis, dramatic effect, or to highlight irony.

An oxymoron can confuse a reader intentionally, or paradoxically, it can offer clarity. It can be used for serious poignancy or for humor.

In short, an oxymoron is a versatile literary device . However, it's easily confused with other devices that involve contrast or contradiction.

An oxymoron uses opposing or contradictory terms to create a figure of speech.

A paradox is when two contrasting ideas are put together for the purposes of creating a comparison. At first, a paradox may not make sense, but it causes deeper reflection.

An example of a paradox in literature is from George Orwell's Animal Farm .

The quote "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" might appear true at first, but nothing can be more equal than something else.

It causes the reader to really think about the nature of equality.

Irony is the difference between what a reader thinks should happen in a situation versus what is actually happening.

It plays with readers' expectations to demonstrate themes or build tension.

You might use an oxymoron to highlight irony, but irony isn't specifically related to a combination of words. It can also be more situational.

An example of dramatic irony comes from the play Oedipus Rex . Oedipus curses his father's killer, but he is unaware that he is actually his father's killer and has cursed himself.

An antithesis also uses opposing words or phrases like an oxymoron, but it plays with syntax to create emphasis on an idea.

Antithesis isn't just one phrase. It uses parallel structure in conjunction with opposing or unrelated words.

William Shakespeare uses antithesis in this quote from Hamlet : "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment."

Each line uses parallel structure and contrasting ideas.

Oxymoron is used frequently in literature because it can serve so many functions. In fact, certain literary genres are oxymorons themselves.

Science fiction , magical realism , and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. These phrases combine to create a whole new concept.

Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. There are several examples in Romeo and Juliet , like the following quotes.

"Parting is such sweet sorrow ." Sorrow and sweet, while not directly antonyms, are contradictory in their connotations.

Here's a longer passage from the famous tragedy that uses multiple examples of oxymoron:

"Why, then, O brawling love ! O loving hate ! O anything, of nothing first create! O heavy lightness! Serious vanity ! Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms ! Feather of lead , bright smoke , cold fire, sick health ! Still-waking sleep , that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this."

In Animal Farm , George Orwell uses an oxymoron in the midst of a paradox: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others."

By definition, it is impossible for something to be more equal than another because equal means the same.

Alfred, Lord Tennyson uses three examples of oxymoron in one sentence in Idylls of the King . Here's the famous quote about Lancelot:

"His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true ."

It illustrates his dilemma in the story. To be loyal to King Arthur, his friend, he must betray his love Guinevere, or vice versa.

In Charlotte Brontë's classic Jane Eyre , St. John describes his love Rosamond as " delicious poison ".

Like the Tennyson example above, this oxymoron highlights St. John's dilemma in choosing between love and honor.

In Fairies and the Quest for Never Land , Gail Carson Levine describes the character Vidia as a " loyal traitor ".

Oxymorons aren't just for classic literature. Keep reading for some more modern examples.

Artist Andy Warhol once described himself as a deeply superficial person. Technically, one cannot be deep and superficial, as these words are opposites.

There are plenty of other oxymoron examples in pop culture. The book and HBO hit series Big Little Lies has an oxymoron right in its title. There is a book by Kirker Butler called Pretty Ugly .

In 2018, a documentary about undocumented immigrants in the United States came out. It was called Waking Dream .

Hollywood hits Night of the Living Dead , True Lies , and Definitely, Maybe are all examples of oxymoron.

The John Legend song "All of Me" has a catchy verse with an oxymoron:

"All of me loves all of you

All your curves and all your edges

All your perfect imperfections ."

Nineties kids might remember the oxymoronic (and often outright moronic!) show CatDog .

Those same kids might have grown up to listen to Fall Out Boy's song " Alone Together " or Kelly Clarkson's " Beautiful Disaster ".

Their parents probably preferred Simon and Garfunkel's " The Sound of Silence " or the Beatles' " Hard Day's Night ".

In fact, the Simon and Garfunkel classic contains some powerful oxymorons in its lyrics:

"People talking without listening

People listening without hearing "

These are just a few oxymoron examples from pop culture. Listen for more examples from your music playlists or Netflix queue.

Dear reader, parting is such sweet sorrow, but hopefully now you understand how oxymorons take opposing words and turn them into new figures of speech.

From William Shakespeare to Fall Out Boy, you can see just how versatile oxymoron is as a literary device . Can you think of any more fun examples?

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Literary Devices

Literary devices, terms, and elements, definition of oxymoron.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two seemingly opposing and contradictory elements are juxtaposed. In literature, oxymora, also known as oxymorons, often reveal a paradox .

The word oxymoron is in itself an oxymoron. It comes from the Ancient Greek word oxumoron , a compound of the words oxus , meaning “sharp” or “keen” and moros , meaning “dull” or “stupid.” Therefore it means something akin to wise foolishness.

Oxymora are often pairs of words, such as the adjective-noun combinations of a “new classic” or a “big sip,” or a noun-verb combination such as “the silence whistles.” Oxymora can also be found in phrases or sentences that have a juxtaposition of contradictory concepts.

Difference Between Oxymoron and Paradox

Oxymoron and paradox are very similar concepts, and the definition of oxymoron states that sometimes they may present a paradox. The difference is that a paradox often is used in literature to give unexpected insights, whereas an oxymoron does not necessarily lead to any insights. Paradoxes usually defy intuition in that they combine seemingly contradictory concepts to hint at a deeper truth. Oxymora, on the other hand, are often easy to grasp the meaning of even while the terms involved are usually used to mean opposite things.

Common Examples of Oxymoron

There are many examples of oxymoron that have become common phrases, such as:

• controlled chaos
• kill with kindness
• small giant
• original copy
• elevated subway

There are also many famous quotes that contain oxymora, such as:

• “I always avoid prophesying beforehand because it is much better to prophesy after the event has already taken place. ” – Winston Churchill
• “It’s a step forward although there was no progress.” – President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt
• “Nothing was stolen. I had an honest thief.” – Donald Trump
• “We must believe in free will. We have no choice.” – Isaac B. Singer
• “I am a deeply superficial person.” – Andy Warhol

Other languages have contributed oxymora to English, such as the Chinese concept of yin-yang. The famous black and white circular symbol that expresses yin-yang shows a drop of white in the black and side and, conversely, a small bit of black in the white side. This is meant to represent that even opposites contain a bit of each other. The yin-yang symbol is thus also a visual representation of oxymoron.

The Italian word pianoforte is also an oxymoron, in that piano means quite and forte means loud. This was the original name for the instrument that later became the piano (an abbreviation of the original word).

Significance of Oxymoron in Literature

Authors have used oxymora throughout the history of literature for many reasons. At times an oxymoron may call attention to the dual nature of an object or concept—something, for example, can be both sweet and sorrowful at the same time (Shakespeare famously wrote that “parting is such sweet sorrow”). This makes the reader think more deeply about the multiple meanings of experience. Oxymora also may just present a concept in a new light to emphasize the author’s creativity. The author Oscar Wilde used many oxymora for comedic effect, and many of these statements have entered popular consciousness, like his statement “I can resist anything, except temptation.”

Examples of Oxymoron in Literature

Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate but more with love. Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first created! O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this.

( Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare)

Shakespeare used many oxymoron examples in his works, and his famous tragic play Romeo and Juliet contains several oxymora. In just this one short excerpt there are many oxymora back to back. For instance, “loving hate,” “heavy lightness,” “feather of lead,” “bright smoke,” “cold fire,” and “sick health” are all oxymoron examples. So too are the slightly longer lines, “O anything of nothing,” “Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,” and “This love feel I, that feel no love in this.” The interesting function of these many oxymora is to illustrate the difficult dualities of love and the extremes that a person may feel when in love. The theme of Romeo and Juliet is, of course, that of tragic love and the very relationship of the two lovers is an oxymoron, as Juliet states, “My only love sprung from my only hate!”

Down the close darkening lanes they sang their way To the siding-shed, And lined the train with faces grimly gay. Their breasts were stuck all white with wreath and spray As men’s are, dead.

(“The Send-Off” by Wilfred Owen)

In this poem by Wilfred Owen, soldiers are getting ready to go to war. They are trying to put on a good face as the public is sending them off, but they know they are heading into uncertainty and terror. Therefore, their faces are “grimly gay”—an oxymoron, but certainly understandable given the circumstances.

As for believing things, I can believe anything, provided that it is quite incredible.

( The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde)

Oscar Wilde, as stated above, loved using oxymora in his works for comedic effect. In this case, the oxymoron is created by the juxtaposition of “believe” and “incredible.” The word “incredible” stems etymologically from the negative form of “credible,” which means “believable.” Therefore, Wilde, in effect, has written that his character will believe anything that cannot be believed. This adds to a sense of the character having something of a wild imagination and being uninterested in anything that is too straightforward.

All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.

( Animal Farm by George Orwell)

In George Orwell’s famous satire Animal Farm , the animals kick out the human owners and attempt to govern the farm themselves. At first, the leader Napoleon creates seven commandments for them to follow, the most important of which is “All animals are equal.” However, as time goes on the commandments begin to change, just as Napoleon’s demeanor toward the rest of the animals starts to change. Eventually he changes this key commandment to the quote above: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” Of course, this new commandment is one of many examples of oxymoron in the new leadership system. Some animals being “more” equal than others is not actually possible if one is to believe the first half of the statement. Orwell used this quote precisely to highlight the hypocrisies of the Russian Revolution. He wrote Animal Farm to critique the form of communism adopted in Russian after the revolution, showing that there was, indeed, no real equality in the new system.

Test Your Knowledge of Oxymoron

1. Which of the following statements is the best oxymoron definition? A. A completely nonsensical pairing of words that has no meaning when used together. B. A figure of speech in which seemingly contradictory terms are juxtaposed. C. A stupid phrase that is cliché d and trite.

2. Which of the following statements is an oxymoron example? A. Deliberate mistake B. Rotten banana C. Foolish idiot

3. Which of the following words, when following the word “partial,” create an oxymoron? A. Silence B. Success C. Cease-fire D. All of the above

4. Which of the following lines from Shakespeare’s “ Sonnet 72” contains an example of oxymoron? A. For you in me can nothing worthy prove B. Unless you would devise some virtuous lie C. My name be buried where my body is

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 60 easy oxymoron examples + analysis.

General Education

Despite what it might sound like, no—an oxymoron isn’t something you can call your little brother when he’s bugging you. Rather, an oxymoron is a cool literary device you can use in your creative writing.

We’ll go over exactly what an oxymoron is and then show you four oxymoron examples from pop culture and literature. We’ll also provide you with an extensive list of oxymorons so you can get a better feel for what oxymorons look and sound like.

What Is an Oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite ideas to create a certain rhetorical or poetic effect and reveal a deeper truth. Generally, the ideas will come as two separate words placed side by side. The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun.

One oxymoron example is "deafening silence," which describes a silence that is so overpowering it almost feels deafening, or extremely loud—just as an actual sound would.

Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and in a breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting.

You might’ve heard of another literary device called the paradox , which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron. While an oxymoron is the combination of two contradictory/opposite words in a single sentence, a paradox is an entire phrase/sentence that appears contradictory but, upon further investigation, could be true or plausible.

One of the most famous examples of a paradox is the sentence, "This statement is false." If this statement is indeed false as it says, then this would actually make it true. But if the statement is true, then it can’t be false, despite the fact it claims to be!

Now, don't let your brain start to hurt just yet —up next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. 

4 Oxymoron Examples + Analysis

Now that we’ve gone over what an oxymoron is, let’s take a closer look at four famous oxymoron examples in sentences to better understand how this literary device actually works.

Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own.

Oxymoron Example 1

This famous quotation from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron.

In this scene, Juliet utters the phrase "sweet sorrow" to describe the feeling she has when having to say goodbye to Romeo. Although the adjective "sweet" evokes a giddy, romantic emotion, the word "sorrow" calls to mind the much less happy, far more depressing aspect of having to bid farewell to someone you'd rather not leave.

Thus, as the oxymoron suggests, this scene is  happy since Juliet and Romeo are in love, yet it's also sad because they must say goodbye  and cannot stay together through the night.

Oxymoron Example 2

                    — William Butler Yeats, "Easter 1916"

This excerpt from Irish poet William Butler Yeats’ famous poem "Easter 1916" has the prominent oxymoron "terrible beauty," which is repeated again at the end of the poem.

The main topic of this poem is the 1916 Easter Rising in Dublin , an event during which numerous Irish nationalists rebelled against the British government in Ireland. The violent display ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries.

Despite the "terrible" things that happened and the many lives lost, Yeats uses the term "beauty" to bring attention to the positive ideals of independence that gained ground as a result of this event:  this desire for self-government is what spurred the Irish War of Independence just a few years later. 

In this sense, the uprising was simultaneously terrible (in that it led to death) and beautiful (in its romantic aspirations for independence).

Oxymoron Example 3

                    — Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Lancelot and Elaine" in  Idylls of the King

This stanza, from Lord Tennyson’s retelling of the tale of King Arthur, uses several oxymorons for poetic effect and as a way to emphasize the conundrum that Lancelot, Arthur’s most loyal knight and friend, finds himself in.

The oxymorons here point to Lancelot's contradictory existence in regard to his relationships with both Guinevere and King Arthur: Lancelot is a "faithful" and "honorable" lover to Guinevere yet also an "unfaithful" and "dishonorable" knight to King Arthur, Guinevere’s husband, whom he is essentially betraying by carrying out a love affair with the queen.

Oxymoron Example 4

                    — John Legend, "All of Me"

These lines come from the hit 2013 song "All of Me" recorded by John Legend. The lyrics of this powerful piano ballad make use of several oxymorons.

With the first oxymoron,  "p erfect imperfections," the speaker is making it clear that his lover’s flaws are ultimately what make her the perfect partner for him.  The other two oxymorons emphasize the fact that no matter what happens —for example,  no matter how sad or defeated the speaker might feel — there will always be a silver lining in that he's with the love of his life.

List of 50+ Oxymorons You Can Use

Below, we provide you with an extensive list of oxymorons. These 50+ oxymoron examples are listed alphabetically and arranged by category (i.e., the type of oxymoron word combination).

Feel free to look through this vast list of oxymoron examples if you’re in need of an oxymoron for something you're writing or if you simply want to learn some of the most common ones.

Single-Word & Compound-Word Oxymorons

• Bittersweet
• Frenemy (friend + enemy)

Adjective + Noun

• Bigger/larger half
• Controlled chaos
• Crash landing
• Cruel kindness
• Deafening silence
• Definite possibility
• Deliberate mistake
• Exact estimate
• Foolish wisdom
• Friendly fire
• Friendly foe
• Hateful love
• Heavy lightness
• Honest thief
• Living dead
• Loud whisper
• Loving hate
• Open secret
• Organized chaos
• Original copy
• Peaceful war
• Perfect imperfections
• Random order
• Same difference
• Silent scream
• Sweet misery
• Sweet sorrow
• Terrible beauty
• Unbiased opinion
• Virtuous lie
• Wakeful sleep
• Walking dead
• Working holiday/vacation

Adverb + Adjective/Adverb

• Alone together
• Awfully good
• Definitely undecided
• Falsely true
• Painfully beautiful
• Perfectly imperfect
• Seriously funny
• Strangely familiar
• Strangely normal
• Terribly good
• Truly false

Miscellaneous

• Act naturally
• Agree to disagree
• Kill with kindness
• Make haste slowly

What’s Next?

Want to learn more about figures of speech, besides oxymorons and paradoxes? Then check out our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know .

Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. Learn all about effective imagery and what personification is with our expert guides.

Preparing to take the AP Literature test? Then you'll need to know what to expect on exam day , including what kinds of questions you'll be asked and how much time you'll have.

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

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• English Grammar
• Figures Of Speech

Oxymoron - Meaning, Definition and How to Use Them with Examples

In this article, you will be introduced to the figure of speech called ‘oxymoron’. You will get to know all that you need to know about oxymoron, its meaning, definitions and how it has to be used. You can also check out the examples given in the article to understand clearly and use the figure of speech correctly.

Table of Contents

What is oxymoron – meaning and definition, how to use an oxymoron in a sentence – points to remember, examples of oxymoron from literature, some other common examples of oxymoron for everyday use, check your understanding of oxymoron, frequently asked questions on oxymoron in english grammar.

An oxymoron is a rhetorical device that uses two opposite or contradictory terms one after the other in order to project an effect. According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, oxymoron is defined as “a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines an oxymoron as “two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings.”

An oxymoron, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words.” The Collins Dictionary defines an oxymoron as “a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined.”

An oxymoron, as already discussed, is the combination of two contradicting terms. There are some points you have to remember when forming and using oxymorons in sentences. The first point you have to keep in mind is that you have to combine two opposite words, only then can it be considered an oxymoron. Also, do not just use any two opposite terms. Not every combination would make sense. You have to carefully analyse which two words would create an effect on your audience.

Taking a look at some examples will help you understand clearly. There are some frequently used oxymorons as well. You can also go through them to have a good idea about how they can be formed and used.

Examples of Oxymoron

Take a look at the following examples of oxymoron to clearly understand what it is and how it can be used.

Here are a few examples of oxymoron as used in different forms of literature.

• “His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Idylls of the King
• We can see multiple instances where William Shakespeare uses oxymorons in his famous play, Romeo and Juliet.
• “Parting is such sweet sorrow. ”
• “Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate !
• O anything, of nothing first create!
• O heavy lightness ! Serious vanity!
• Mis-shalien chaos of well-seeming forms!
• Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health !”
• In the poem, Don Juan by Lord Byron, he uses oxymoron to connect the emotions between sadness and happiness.
• “With good, and bad, and worse, alike prolific

Of melancholy merriment, to quote

Too much of one sort would be soporific;”

• William Butler Yeats uses an oxymoron in his poem, Lapis Lazuli
• “One asks for mournful melodies ;

Accomplished fingers begin to play.”

• John Donne makes use of an oxymoron in his poem, The Ecstasy.
• “Our eye-beams twisted, and did thread
• Our eyes upon one double string;

So to’intergraft our hands, as yet

Was all the means to make us one,

Here are a few commonly used oxymorons that have been in the English language frequently. Examples of sentences using those oxymorons have also been given in the following table for your reference. Check them out.

Identify the oxymorons in the following sentences.

1. It is always a love-hate relationship between us.

2. I can never manage such a deafening silence.

3. The company faced a minor crisis in the last year, which affected the company to a great extent.

4. Their restlessness was projected like a silent scream for help.

5. I have zero tolerance for dishonesty.

6. My mom asked my brother to stop behaving like a big baby.

7. Trigonometry is my least favourite topic in Maths.

8. There was a definite possibility for us to be late due to the traffic.

9. We use plastic glasses so we can just dispose of them after use.

10. Mazeeka was on a heavy diet owing to her wedding.

Now, find out if you have identified the oxymorons correctly from the answers given below.

2. I can never manage such a deafening silence .

6. My mom asked my brother to stop behaving like a big baby .

What is an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a rhetorical device that uses two opposite or contradictory terms one after the other in order to project an effect.

What is the definition of an oxymoron?

According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, oxymoron is defined as “a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other.” The Cambridge Dictionary defines an oxymoron as “two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings.” An oxymoron, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words.” The Collins Dictionary defines an oxymoron as “a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined.”

How can we form an oxymoron?

The first point you have to keep in mind is that you have to combine two opposite words, only then can it be considered an oxymoron. Also, do not just use any two opposite terms. Not every combination would make sense. You have to carefully analyse which two words would create an effect on your audience.

Give some examples of oxymorons from literature.

Here are some examples of oxymorons from literature.

Give some common day-to-day examples of oxymorons.

Here are a few examples of oxymorons that can be used in everyday life.

• My brother feels that I am growing smaller every time he comes back after a trip.
• Santana left the painting completely unfinished.
• My sister and I had a friendly fight.
• Technological advancement in the educational department is completely based on virtual reality.
• Soumia seems to be clearly confused.

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Understanding an Oxymoron (Definition, Examples, Paradox Comparison)

What is an oxymoron? And what is the difference between an oxymoron and a paradox? Are oxymorons used in common American English?

Learn more in this oxymoron guide and worksheet…

What is an Oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that appears to contradict itself. 

It is a rhetorical device used to emphasize a particular point.

Definition of an oxymoron

According to Merriam-Webster , an oxymoron is “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness).”

An oxymoron is any figure of speech that contains opposing words to create the impression of a contradiction.

It is made up of the Greek words “ Oxus ,“ meaning “sharp,“ and “moros,“ meaning “foolish,” and or “dull.” This makes the word ”oxymoron” an oxymoron in itself.

How are Oxymorons Used in English?

Oxymorons are used in English to grab readers’ attention or for humorous effect . 

It is commonly used in literature to bring the reader’s attention to the values of two different concepts.

Famous comedians like George Carlin used them in comedy skits to illustrate the difference between the two concepts. “Civil war” is one such example. “Civil” means “polite”, and “war“ refers to the conflict of two groups on a battlefield.

Individually, the words mean different things, but together, they have another meaning altogether.

Then there are certain kinds of oxymorons that grow out of casual slang, such as calling something “wicked good.”

What is an Oxymoron in Literature?

An oxymoron carries much of the same connotations in literature as in regular Modern English. In literature, it is a form of figurative language that takes away from the literal meaning to bring attention to the abstract or symbolic concepts that the writer is trying to convey. 

Shakespeare commonly used oxymorons to create descriptions for his scenes or to emphasize the emotions a particular character felt in a scene. 

In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses the oxymoron “ Oh, brawling love, O loving hate ” to refer to the conflicting feelings between the respective families of Romeo and Juliet (this example also known as literary devices) .

This is done to emphasize how their love is blind and how love between the two was hated because of the conflict and drama it created between the families. 

Oxymorons in literature are not just used to point out contradictions but to show how humans themselves are contradictory as well. A single person or character can have great love and hate for the same person.

Both are strong emotions and are often said to be different sides of the same coin. Characters often express one emotion with words while expressing another through body language and gestures.

Since desire is the root of emotions and pulls characters in different directions , literature commonly makes a point of having characters express their contradictory nature.

This is done through dialogue , actions, and narration, all while using oxymorons to make the prose rich and exciting.

For further examples of Shakespeare using oxymorons, read this page.

Types of Oxymorons

Oxymorons can be categorized into the following groups

• Single word oxymorons
• Double word oxymorons
• Dependent morpheme
• Independent morpheme

Single word oxymoron

Single-word oxymorons use two opposite or contrasting ideas pushed inside a  single word. 

• E.g. , Bittersweet.

Double word oxymoron

A double-word oxymoron is made up of two different words standing separate from one another and giving birth to a deeper meaning when considered as a whole.

• E.g., Civil war

Dependent morpheme 

A dependent morpheme uses two different morphemes to create a single word. 

• E.g., Preposterous

(Pre refers to something before the start, and post refers to something after the end of something.)

Independent morpheme 

An independent morpheme is split into two morphemes that carry opposing meanings together. The morphemes here don’t depend on one another to be complete. They make sense individually and join together to create a more refined meaning. 

• E.g., Spendthrift.

(Spend refers to buying something, while thrift refers to not being wasteful)

Examples of Oxymorons

Here are examples of oxymorons.

• Almost exactly
• Act naturally
• Awfully good
• Business ethics
• Barely dressed
• Benevolent despot
• Bright smoke
• Boxing ring
• Controlled chaos 
• Cruel kindness
• Criminal justice
• Deafening silence 
• Dotted line
• Dead man walking 
• Freezer burn
• Fine mess 
• Frenemy 
• Fairly dark
• Fairly nasty
• Feathers of lead
• Friendly fire
• Final draft
• Finally begun
• Funny business
• Growing smaller
• Hardly easy
• Industrial park
• Love-hate 
• Least favorite
• Living dead 
• Loyal opposition
• Modern history
• Original copy
• Only choice
• Open secret
• Peaceful war 
• Perfectly imperfect 
• Rising deficit
• Recorded live
• Same difference
• Sanitary sewer
• Silent scream
• Silent alarm
• Small giant
• Strangely familiar 
• Sounds of Silence 
• Talking pictures
• Terribly nice
• Virtual reality

For more oxymorons, you can refer to this page.

Examples of Oxymorons Used in Sentences

• “The politician gave his deceptively honest opinion.”
• “The comedian was seriously funny.”
• “This is a genuine imitation Rolex watch.”
• “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
• “This is one amazingly fine mess you’ve gotten us into.”
• “That rumor is old news.”
• “He is my least favorite actor.”
• “How do you like the wireless cable connection?”
• “Stop being such a big baby.”
• “She has a real passive-aggressive personality.”
• “The story was based on a true myth.”

Oxymorons in Quotes and Sayings

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” — George Orwell

“We must believe in free will. We have no choice.” — Isaac Bashevis

“I am a deeply superficial person.” — Andy Warhol

“The budget was unlimited, but I exceeded it.” —Donald Trump

“I can resist everything but temptation.” —Oscar Wilde

“It usually takes me three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.” —Mark Twain

Is “Jumbo Shrimp” an Oxymoron?

Jumbo shrimp is widely considered the most classic example of an oxymoron. The noun and adjective are antonyms or otherwise clearly contradictory in some way.

In the phrase “jumbo shrimp,” the word “jumbo” refers to something big, while “shrimp” refers to something small and the crustacean at the same time. The secondary meaning is what qualifies “jumbo shrimp” as an oxymoron here, and is an effective form of wordplay.

Oxymoron vs. Paradox

Since an oxymoron refers to a statement or figure of speech that contradicts itself, does this mean an oxymoron is also a paradox?

A paradox is a rhetorical device and self-contradictory figure of speech that can be factually and logically true. 

An oxymoron is just a statement that pairs two opposing concepts.

The key is understanding the intent and meaning of the words being used. 

If Bob tells Alice to act naturally, he is using two different words that have opposing meanings. 

But if Bob tells Alice a harsh truth to help her, he is going by the paradox that sometimes you must be cruel to someone to be kind.

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory at first but turns out to have a nugget of truth contained within.

You can refer to this page for an in-depth look at the differences between a paradox and an oxymoron.

Oxymoron vs. Antonym pairs

If an oxymoron is a statement with opposing concepts, does that mean that statements like “good and evil,” “yin and yang,” and “right and wrong,” are oxymorons?

An oxymoron implies that something has two opposite qualities at the same time. The contradictory nature of one single entity is what makes an oxymoron. 

When referring to “right and wrong” and “good and evil,” we see two opposing concepts. We are not suggesting any one entity having both properties at the same time. We are simply referring to two different, antithetical things.

These figures of speech are simply antonym pairs, couples, ranges, and other kinds of extremes. Antonym pairs are not oxymorons because they refer to two different entities rather than one entity with two opposing characteristics.

What’s the Difference Between an Oxymoron and Irony?

Irony is a literary technique that implies the opposite of what the writer is saying.

Since oxymorons have contradictions in them, does that mean oxymorons are irony? No.

Irony is the difference between what your audience is anticipating and what actually happens in a dramatic story. It is the purposeful subversion of expectations to create surprise and shock.

Oxymorons are certainly used to highlight irony, but irony is based on context and situation. It does not refer to the contradiction between the words in a sentence .

If a character steps out of an inn and walks into a soggy street while a thunderstorm looms overhead, he might say, “This is fantastic weather we’re having.”

The contradiction here is between what the character says and what is happening. There are no contradictions between the words that are being used.

Oxymorons might be used to punctuate ironic moments, but they should not be confused with situational irony.

How to Identify an Oxymoron

You can quickly identify an oxymoron by spotting two words in a phrase that logically don’t go together. But they still form a pair because the speaker is trying to communicate a nuance or bring attention to something. This would not be possible without the contradiction necessary to make the oxymoron.

For example: If Alice remarks that Bob’s secret identity is an open secret, she is using a contradiction to bring attention to something. The words “open secret” imply that while someone might think Bob’s identity is secret, everyone knows who he really is. There’s no secret.

For example: If Alice remarks that Bob is being awfully sweet, she is using contradictory words to imply that Bob is being very nice. This oxymoron brings emphasis to the word “sweet.”

Is “Oxymoronic” a word?

Oxymoronic is the adjective form of the word oxymoron. So oxymoronically is the adverb form of the word oxymoron. So yes, oxymoronic is indeed a word.

Can a Person Be an Oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech or a statement. It is not the personal characteristic of the person. If someone is “barely dressed,” that implies they are almost naked. It does not imply the person is a walking, talking contradiction.

The confusion in this belief might lie in the word “moron,” which some people infer to refer to the person. But the word “oxymoron” has nothing to do with the word “moron.” It just happens that the word for “foolish” in Greek is “ moros .”

You cannot call someone an oxymoron, but you can undoubtedly describe how they act like an oxymoron, such as calling someone “passive-aggressive.”

What Is the Opposite of an Oxymoron?

While an oxymoron is a statement with opposing, self-contradictory concepts, a tautology is a complete opposite.

A tautology is a statement with two words that mean the same thing.

For example: A tiny speck. A true fact. Boys will be boys.

A tautology is a sentence with repeated meaning, making use of redundant phrases to say the same thing to create emphasis. The word tautology is comprised of the words “tautuos” which means “identical,” and “logos,” which means word or idea.

• Difference between oxymoron and paradox
• Huge list of oxymorons
• Romeo and Juliet oxymorons
• Oxymoron examples

A rhetorical device where two seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect.

Slow is fast, be quick to be slow, a rich little poor girl, loving hate, pointedly foolish.

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Curiously, the word oxymoron is an oxymoron itself. It is a combination of the Greek words “oxys” (sharp) and “moros” (dull). An oxymoron has historically been called a “paradox with a point” or “pointedly foolish” because the phrase appears paradoxical or absurd. Due to this oddity in phrasing, oxymorons are some of the most fun word combinations in the English language.

What is Oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two words with contradictory meanings to create a new word or phrase. As seen in the following examples, the most common oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun but can simply be two adjectives combined into one word:  “bittersweet,” “jumbo shrimp,” “living death,” or “open secret.”

How to pronounce Oxymoron?

What are the benefits of using oxymorons in your writing .

While there are a variety of reasons that writers use oxymorons, some of the most common include:

• The creation of new words
• To highlight a paradox
• To illuminate conflict
• To create a playful tone
• To add dramatic effect
• To showcase the writer’s wit.

The use of an oxymoron is always intentional and there is usually a larger purpose, such as making a larger point or drawing attention to some aspect of the bigger picture.

Oxymoron in Literature 📚

An examination of literature yields numerous examples of oxymoron used in practice. Of course, it comes as no surprise that once again, Shakespeare tops the list of mastery. For example, in Romeo and Juliet , over the span of 5 lines , he incorporates a total of 8 oxymorons in Romeo’s dialogue with Benvolio in Act 1.

“Why, then, O brawling love , O loving hate ,

O anything of nothing first created,

O heavy lightness, serious vanity ,

Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms,

Feather of lead , bright smoke , cold fire , sick health ,

Still-waking sleep that is not what it is.”

While not as long-winded as Shakespeare, George Orwell uses oxymorons in Animal Farm to highlight change and inequality. The single commandment which replaced the previous seven now read:

All Animals are Equal But Some Animals are More Equal Than Others

In this case, “ more equal ” equates to not equal when the context of the entire message is considered. As long as others are “more equal,” true equality cannot exist . And for our third example, it shall be the untimely love of Guinevere and Lancelot in Alfred, Lord Tennyson ’s Idyll’s of the King .

“And peradventure had he seen her first

She might have made this and that other world

Another world for the sick man; but now

The shackles of an old love straitened him,

His honour rooted in dishonour stood,And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.”

In this example, the full stanza must be examined to see how Tennyson uses oxymorons for poetic effect to fully explain the unfortunate circumstance Lancelot, Arthur’s most trusted knight, finds himself in.

Oxymoron in Children’s Literature 🧸

In the world of children’s literature, the use of oxymorons is not quite as common as other mediums. However, there do exist quite a few teaching tools for how to teach children how to use the oxymoron in speech. One notable example is a children’s book whose title is, in fact, an oxymoron. The book is called, Who Ordered Jumbo Shrimp and Other Oxymorons by Jon Agee .

Examples of Oxymoron in Songs 🎧

It is also prominent in song . One of the most notable songs featuring oxymorons is The Verve ’s “ Bitter Sweet Symphony ”

And then there is John Legend’s “All of Me. In this song, Legend uses the phrase “ perfectly imperfect ” to say that he loves this person because they are not perfect. Oxymorons are also common in the use of Album tiles. One of the most notable album titles in the category is that of Nine Inch Nails and the album Pretty Hate Machine .

And in Poetry ✍🏽

Poetry also offers a multitude of examples to draw from. In fact, it might be argued, that next to simile and metaphor , the oxymoron may be the most overused literary device in the poetic tradition. In the poem, “ Easter 1916 ,” William Butler Yeats repeats the oxymoron “ terrible beauty ” to highlight both the terrible violence and the positive beauty and idealism behind the idea of Independence during the The Easter Rising of 1916.

“I have passed with a nod of the head

Or polite meaningless words,

Or have lingered awhile and said

Polite meaningless words,

And thought before I had done

Of a mocking tale or a gibe

To please a companion

Around the fire at the club,

Being certain that they and I

But lived where motley is worn:

All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.”

Keeping with the trend, John Milton uses an oxymoron in Paradise Lost to describe his view of Hell. He writes,

“As one great furnace flamed, yet from those flames

No light, but rather, darkness visible ”

To which, you have to wonder, “How can darkness be visible if no light is emitted from the flames?” The short answer is the flames are emitting darkness and the darkness is visible in that nothing is visible in the dark.

And then we have Thomas Grey and his poem, “Elegy Written in a Country Courtyard.” In this poem, the two most notable instances of oxymoron usage occur in two separate stanzas.

“Let not Ambition mock their useful toil,

         Their homely joys, and destiny obscure;

Nor Grandeur hear with a disdainful smile

         The short and simple annals of the poor.

But Knowledge to their eyes her ample page

         Rich with the spoils of time did ne’er unroll;

Chill Penury repress’d their noble rage ,

         And froze the genial current of the soul.”

As may have been noticed after reading these passages, Grey uses the terms “ disdainful smile ” and “ noble rage. ” The first is used to describe how the wealthy look down upon the poor through meaningless smiles to hide their disdain while “ noble rage ” describes how poor dead and buried were denied access to knowledge but because they were dead, their rage remained hidden and unexpressed.

Oxymoron in Film and Pop Culture 🎥

When turning to film and pop culture, the oxymoron soars to new heights in film titles. Abundant in film titles such as:

• Eyes Wide Shut
• Back to the Future
• The Asphalt Jungle featuring Marilyn Monroe

And the list goes on and on …

Oxymoron in Advertising 📺

Oh! How the list could go on! To note a few big ones,

• Subway’s meatless meatball marinara sub. ‘Nuf said.
• A Peacekeeper missile. Seriously? How is a missile going to keep peace? Unless that’s the point.
• Bureaucratic efficiency. This one’s just plain laughable. Can anyone name an instance where bureaucracy was actually efficient?
• Soup sandwich. I’m sorry. What? Apparently, it’s a real thing.

Close Relations and a Source of Confusion 👥

• Paradox – When an author combines two or more contradictory things or situations in such a way that it seems impossible. Example: Lady Windermere’s Fan , Oscar Wilde when Lord Darlington says, “ I can resist everything except temptation.”   His statement is paradoxical because it is impossible to resist everything if you give in to something, such as temptation. Truth be told, the real difference between oxymoron and paradox is how their respective contradictions are expressed.
• Juxtaposition – the act of placing two words, objects, or ideas close or right next to each other to highlight their differences. Example: black and white; hot ice; lost and found; blinding sight

What is an oxymoron in literature?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposing words to create a paradoxical effect. This literary device is used to add depth, emphasize contrasts, or create an intriguing tension within a phrase, often revealing a deeper or complex truth.

How does an oxymoron enhance a text?

An oxymoron enhances a text by adding dramatic effect, highlighting contradictions in characters or situations, or underscoring the complexity of themes. It can make descriptions more vivid and memorable, and provoke thought by challenging readers to consider how opposing elements can coexist or reveal deeper meanings.

Can an oxymoron be found in both poetry and prose?

Yes, oxymorons can be found in both poetry and prose. In poetry, they contribute to the density of meaning and emotional nuance. In prose, they can add emphasis or depth to character descriptions, settings, or themes, often enriching the narrative with their paradoxical insight.

Why do writers use oxymorons?

Writers use oxymorons to draw attention to the complexities and contradictions of life, to add stylistic flair to their writing, and to evoke a more profound response from the reader. By juxtaposing conflicting words, writers can explore themes of love, conflict, sorrow, and the human condition in nuanced and impactful ways.

How can I identify an oxymoron in a text?

To identify an oxymoron, look for phrases that combine words with opposite or contradictory meanings. These are often used deliberately to create a striking or thought-provoking effect. Recognizing an oxymoron involves paying attention to the context in which the words are used and considering how their juxtaposition enhances the meaning or emotional impact of the text.

Table Of Contents

Introduction.

• What is an Oxymoron?

Why Do Writers Use Oxymorons?

Oxymoron vs. paradox.

• Examples of Oxymorons in Everyday Conversations
• Examples of Oxymorons in Literature

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory or opposing words to create a paradoxical and thought-provoking expression, often used for rhetorical effect.

In this article, we will define this figure of speech and illustrate it with examples from literature.

Let’s get started with understanding what an oxymoron means!

What Is An Oxymoron?

An  oxymoron  is a figure of speech that combines incongruous or contradictory terms. The plural is  oxymorons  or  oxymora .

The term “oxymoron” originates from the Greek language, where “oxus” means “sharp” or “keen,” and “moros” means “foolish” or “dull.” Combining these elements, the term evolved to describe a rhetorical device that juxtaposes contradictory or seemingly incompatible words for expressive impact.

Oxymorons often involve the combination of contradictory or opposing terms for rhetorical effect. The following examples showcase both adjective-noun and noun-verb combinations:

Adjective-noun oxymorons:

• Deafening silence
• Living dead
• Open secret
• Virtual reality
• Organized chaos

Noun-verb oxymoron:

• The silence whistles

These combinations create a striking contrast, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of the expressions.

Writers use oxymorons as a literary device to enhance their language, create impact, and convey nuanced meanings. The juxtaposition of contradictory terms adds depth and complexity to their expressions. Here are some purposes for which writers employ oxymorons:

• Vivid Language:  Oxymorons contribute to the creation of vivid and memorable language.
• Thought Provocation:  They provoke thought by introducing apparent contradictions.
• Emotional Engagement:  The contrasting elements evoke emotions, making the writing more impactful.
• Highlighting Complexity:  They emphasize the complexity or irony inherent in a concept.
• Rhetorical Flair:  Writers use them to add rhetorical flair, making their writing more compelling.

Oxymoron and paradox are both literary devices that involve the juxtaposition of seemingly contradictory elements. While they share similarities, they serve distinct purposes in language and literature.

An oxymoron as explained above is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposing words to create a paradoxical effect. They are used to evoke emotion, emphasize contrasts, and highlight the complexity of a concept or situation.

• Examples:  “Bitter sweet,” “deafening silence,” “jumbo shrimp.”

A paradox, on the other hand, is a statement or situation that appears contradictory but may reveal a deeper truth upon closer examination. It is used to challenge conventional thinking, provoke thought, and often convey profound insights or truths about human experience.

• Examples:  “Less is more,” “I can resist anything except temptation,” “the beginning of the end.”

The differences between the two figures of speech lie in the following:

• Structure:  Oxymorons are typically short phrases with juxtaposed words, creating a vivid contrast in a few words. Paradoxes often involve longer statements or situations that seem contradictory at first glance.
• Purpose:  Oxymorons aim to evoke specific emotions and emphasize the juxtaposition of contrasting elements. Paradoxes, on the other hand, often aim to challenge and provoke thought, revealing hidden truths or insights.

Here is an illustrative table:

Examples Of Oxymorons In Everyday Conversations

Here’s a table with common oxymorons and sentences using them:

Examples Of Oxymorons In Literature

Oxymorons are frequently used in literature:

Juliet Sweet, so would I, Yet I should kill thee with much cherishing. Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, That I shall say good night till it be morrow. From “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare

The oxymoron is present in the phrase “Parting is such sweet sorrow.” This expression combines contradictory terms, suggesting that saying goodbye is both sweet (pleasant or joyful) and sorrowful (painful or sad). The oxymoron captures the bittersweet nature of farewells, emphasizing the complex and conflicting emotions experienced in the act of parting.

Romeo Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love. Why, then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first created, O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms, Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep that is not what it is. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. From “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare

In this evocative excerpt from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” the use of oxymorons contributes to the conflicting emotions and paradoxes that characterize the speaker’s experience with love. Oxymorons are skillfully employed to convey the intricate nature of the speaker’s feelings. Each oxymoron serves as a linguistic device, weaving together seemingly opposing concepts to encapsulate the complexity, inner turmoil, and nuances of the speaker’s emotions.

Here are examples from the passage:

• Meaning:  Implies a weight or burden associated with something typically considered light.
• Explanation:  The speaker expresses a sense of heaviness or burden in their emotions, contrasting with the lightness often associated with love.
• Meaning:  Combines seriousness and vanity, suggesting depth in something often perceived as trivial.
• Explanation:  The speaker highlights the profound or significant nature of an element that is usually associated with superficiality or triviality.
• Meaning:  Suggests disorder within the appearance of order or beauty.
• Explanation:  The speaker conveys the idea that outward appearances can be deceptive, hiding inner chaos or disorder beneath a well-structured facade.
• Meaning:  Implies a combination of lightness and heaviness.
• Explanation:  The speaker describes a conflicting emotional state, where the lightness associated with a feather is juxtaposed with the heaviness of lead, emphasizing the paradox of their feelings.
• Meaning:  Combines brightness with the insubstantial or elusive quality of smoke.
• Explanation:  The speaker suggests that something vivid or bright is also intangible or elusive, underscoring the fleeting nature of the emotions.
• Meaning:  Conveys intensity or passion without warmth.
• Explanation:  The speaker describes a love or desire that is emotionally distant or lacks the warmth typically associated with such feelings.
• Meaning:  Implies compromised or unhealthy well-being.
• Explanation:  The speaker describes a state of well-being that is paradoxically unhealthy or compromised, reflecting the complexities of their emotional state.
• Meaning:  Suggests a sleep-like state that is not restful or peaceful.
• Explanation:  The speaker describes a restless or troubled mental state, using the oxymoron to convey the paradox of a sleep-like condition that lacks tranquility.

Sweet scorn, sweet anger, and sweet misery, Forgiveness sweet, sweet burden, and sweet ill; Sweet accents that mine ear so sweetly thrill, That sweetly bland, now sweetly fierce can be. Mourn not, my soul, but suffer silently; And those embitter’d sweets thy cup that fill With the sweet honour blend of loving still Her whom I told: “Thou only pleasest me.” Hereafter, moved with envy, some may say: “For that high-boasted beauty of his day Enough the bard has borne!” then heave a sigh. Others: “Oh! why, most hostile Fortune, why Could not these eyes that lovely form survey? Why was she early born, or wherefore late was I?” By  Francesco Petrarca

This  passage  is rich with examples of oxymorons, capturing the complex and contradictory nature of the emotions expressed. While there are many instances, we will focus on three to illustrate the nuanced use of this literary device:

• Explanation:  The juxtaposition of “sweet” and “scorn” combines positive and negative emotions, portraying a complex and conflicting attitude.
• Explanation:  Similar to “sweet scorn,” the pairing of “sweet” with “anger” conveys a mix of positive and negative sentiments, emphasizing the paradoxical nature of the emotional experience.
• Explanation:  This oxymoron suggests that the burden, typically associated with something heavy or troublesome, is endowed with sweetness, adding layers of complexity to the emotional weight being carried.

These chosen examples showcase how oxymorons in the passage contribute to portraying intricate and contradictory feelings within the context of love and forgiveness.

“Lady Russell had only to listen composedly, and wish them happy, but internally her heart revelled in angry pleasure, in pleased contempt, that the man who at twenty-three had seemed to understand somewhat of the value of an Anne Elliot, should, eight years afterwards, be charmed by a Louisa Musgrove.” From “Persuasion” by Jane Austen

In “Persuasion” by Jane Austen, the oxymoron “angry pleasure” describes Lady Russell’s conflicting emotions. While she outwardly wishes happiness for others, internally she takes some satisfaction or enjoyment in observing a shift of affections. However, this pleasure is accompanied by anger, as the situation involves the man who once valued Anne Elliot now being charmed by another woman, Louisa Musgrove, after eight years. The oxymoron captures the complexity of Lady Russell’s feelings in this romantic context.

In conclusion, an oxymoron serves as a potent literary device, offering a succinct and impactful means of expressing complex ideas by juxtaposing seemingly contradictory terms.

While it shares a connection with the broader concept of paradox, which involves statements or situations that appear contradictory yet reveal deeper truths, an oxymoron is specifically concerned with the fusion of opposing words within a concise phrase.

Using oxymorons in your writing not only adds richness and depth to the language but also allows for the creation of vivid contrasts.

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What Is an Oxymoron? Definition & 30+ Examples

Ever come across phrases like “deafening silence” or “bittersweet” and wondered how they can make sense while seemingly contradicting themselves? Enter the realm of oxymorons! This captivating figure of speech combines opposing terms to create intriguing expressions that evoke thought and spark curiosity.

By examining examples from literature, movies, and daily conversations, we’ll unravel the beauty of oxymorons and how they reveal the complexity and nuances of human thought and experience.

Embark on this linguistic adventure with us as we uncover the essence of oxymorons and celebrate their role in enriching our communication.

Table of Contents

Definition and Origins of Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a point, often to reveal a deeper or unexpected truth. The purpose of an oxymoron is to create a dramatic effect, make the reader stop and think, or add flavor to language.

The term “oxymoron” is itself an oxymoron in the original Greek where “oxy” means sharp or keen, and “moron” means dull or foolish.

These seemingly paradoxical expressions play a prominent role in both ancient and modern literature, capturing readers’ attention and provoking deeper thought. Such phrases often serve to emphasize specific concepts or make a statement, and provide an interesting means of expressing complex ideas.

In ancient Greek literature, oxymorons were often utilized to illustrate the complexities of life and human emotions. These paradoxical statements were not limited to poetry, but also made their way into philosophical discourse, providing a platform for critical thinking and debate.

While oxymorons can be traced back to Ancient Greek roots, they continue to be employed creatively across a myriad of literary genres and styles.

Examples of Oxymorons in Literature

Shakespeare.

William Shakespeare, the renowned English playwright and poet, was known for his masterful use of language, including the skillful employment of oxymorons. Here are some examples of oxymorons from his works:

In this famous line, Romeo expresses the bittersweet nature of saying farewell to Juliet, as their love is so strong, yet they must part for now.

In this line, Romeo describes the conflicting emotions of love and hate, highlighting their paradoxical relationship.

Hamlet uses this oxymoron to convey the idea that, although he must act harshly, he does so with good intentions.

The witches in Macbeth use this oxymoron to foreshadow the theme of deception and the blurring of good and evil throughout the play.

In Mark Antony’s famous speech, he uses this oxymoron to emphasize the devastating betrayal of Brutus, which he considers the cruelest of all.

Lord Byron, the influential English Romantic poet, also made use of oxymorons in his works, imbuing them with layers of meaning and emotional depth. Here are a few examples from his poetry:

In these lines, Byron uses the oxymoron “modern female saint” to suggest that the woman he describes possesses a unique blend of contemporary charm and traditional virtue.

In this passage, Byron combines “charm” and “earliest birds” to convey the allure of dawn, despite the early hour and the fact that waking up early can be unpleasant.

In this line, Byron employs the oxymoron “calm ‘midst the horrors” to emphasize the protagonist’s stoicism and emotional strength in the face of adversity, highlighting his heroic qualities.

In this passage, Byron uses the oxymoron “well-lit mind” to describe a bright and intelligent individual whose presence makes a significant impact in the world.

Byron juxtaposes “cold hopes” with “living clay,” creating a vivid image of despair that contrasts with the vitality of life, emphasizing the struggle and perseverance of the human spirit.

Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish playwright, novelist, and poet, was known for his wit, satire, and use of language. He too utilized oxymorons in his works to create memorable lines that capture the complexities of human emotions and experiences. Here are some examples from his literature:

This line contains an implied oxymoron, contrasting the concepts of “price” and “value,” and criticizes the materialism and superficiality of society.

In this line, Wilde combines the seemingly contradictory ideas of harmony and discord to emphasize the importance of self-discovery and individuality.

Wilde employs the oxymoron “happy with any woman” and “does not love her” to create a satirical and thought-provoking statement about the nature of love and happiness.

In this line, Wilde cleverly juxtaposes the contradictory ideas of desiring and dreading public attention, presenting a paradox that reflects societal attitudes towards fame and reputation.

Here, Wilde playfully uses the oxymoron “persons with no principles” to satirize societal norms and values, suggesting an appreciation for individuality and nonconformity.

Oxymorons in Popular Culture and Everyday Speech

Movies and entertainment.

Oxymorons are also used extensively in movies and entertainment to emphasize paradoxes, create humor, or express deep sentiments. Here are some examples:

In this line, the character expresses his ambitious spirit and determination to succeed despite his current lack of wealth, using an oxymoron to highlight the contrast between his outward appearance and inward aspirations.

In this movie title and line, the oxymoron “peaceful warrior” is used to convey the idea of someone who battles internal conflicts or life’s challenges with a sense of tranquility and mental strength.

Charlie Brown’s famous exclamation is an oxymoron. Grief, typically associated with sorrow, is described as ‘good’, reflecting frustration or disbelief more than actual sadness.

The title of this TV series is an oxymoron that reflects the show’s premise: two platonic friends often find themselves alone and alienated in social situations, but they navigate their awkward experiences together.

This phrase, originally from W.B. Yeats’ poem “Easter, 1916,” is an oxymoron that expresses the haunting allure of something tragically beautiful.

Music Lyrics

Music lyrics often use oxymorons to express complex emotions, juxtapose contrasting ideas, or create memorable phrases. Here are some examples:

The oxymoron “can’t remember to forget you” combines contradictory ideas to express the difficulty of moving on from a past relationship.

This phrase is an oxymoron that juxtaposes the physical act of breathing (indicating life) with the feeling of dying inside (indicating emotional despair).

The title itself is an oxymoron, as “definitely” and “maybe” are contradictory, with the first suggesting certainty and the second suggesting uncertainty.

The phrase “killing me softly” is an oxymoron because “killing” is usually a harsh, violent act, which is contrasted here with the gentle adverb “softly”.

The title is a clear oxymoron, combining the concept of “silent”, which is quiet, with “scream”, which is loud.

Everyday Conversations

Oxymorons often appear in common expressions and statements, such as:

Functions and Effects of Oxymorons

Oxymorons are used in literature and everyday speech for a variety of purposes. Here are some of their functions and effects:

Creating Drama and Conflict

Oxymorons, as rhetorical devices, possess the unique ability to generate drama, intrigue, and conflict within a narrative by setting opposing elements side by side. By bringing together these paradoxical terms, a striking contrast is created, which can captivate the reader’s attention and spark emotional resonance.

Consider the instance when a character refers to a prevailing quietude as a “deafening silence.” Here, the reader is confronted with the uneasy fusion of silence — typically a state of tranquility — with the unsettling descriptor “deafening,” a term commonly associated with overwhelming noise.

This oxymoron artfully encapsulates an intense contradiction, underpinning a tension that stimulates the reader’s imagination and tugs at their emotions.

Adding Humor and Irony

Oxymorons, as linguistic tools, can deftly infuse a blend of humor and irony into a text, thereby spotlighting the inherent absurdity or contradiction nestled within certain circumstances.

This ingenious use of paradoxes not only showcases the author’s creative flair and distinctive wit, but it also imprints an indelible mark on the reader’s memory, enhancing the overall impact of the content.

For instance, take the phrase “living dead.” At first glance, it seems to be an outright contradiction — how can one be both alive and dead at the same time? Yet, in the context of zombie lore, it manages to encapsulate a rather unique, if macabre, concept with a dash of dark humor.

The clever juxtaposition of opposing states of existence incites a smirk or chuckle, underlining the inherent paradox while lightening the mood.

This subtly comedic use of oxymorons can often add an extra layer of enjoyment for the reader. By spotlighting life’s inherent absurdities, oxymorons create a rich tapestry of language that encourages readers to see situations from fresh perspectives.

In this way, the author uses humor and irony, amplified through the use of oxymorons, to craft an engaging, memorable narrative that lingers in the reader’s mind long after the words have been read.

Revealing Deeper Meanings

Oxymorons, as effective literary devices, are adept at unearthing deeper layers of significance and understanding. They achieve this through their fusion of seemingly discordant terms, stimulating the reader to delve deeper into the author’s intended message. This results in a highly interactive and intellectually challenging reading experience, rewarding the reader with profound insights.

Consider, for instance, the phrase “bittersweet tears.” On the surface, this may appear as a simple contradiction — how can tears, typically associated with sorrow, be simultaneously bitter and sweet?

However, upon further contemplation, the reader realizes that this oxymoron encapsulates a sophisticated emotional state wherein joy and sorrow coexist. It is a poignant reflection of life’s complexities, where emotions are rarely singular or straightforward.

This oxymoron acts as a narrative clue, kindling the reader’s curiosity and fostering a deep sense of empathy towards the character or situation being described.

The power of the oxymoron lies in its ability to create a ripple effect of thought and inquiry, as the reader navigates through the layers of apparent contradiction to unearth deeper truths.

Through their use, authors can present seemingly ordinary situations or emotions in an extraordinary light, thus deepening the reader’s engagement and enhancing their understanding of the narrative’s nuanced themes.

In this way, oxymorons serve as conduits for delivering profound insights, enriching the reading experience manifold.

Add Flavor to Language

Oxymorons, with their inherent paradoxical charm, are frequently employed to inject vibrancy and dynamism into language. As they intertwine opposing terms into a singular, compelling concept, they infuse the narrative with an intriguing poetic quality, thereby transforming ordinary prose into a captivating linguistic dance.

These juxtaposed terms serve to enrich descriptions, rendering them more vivid, evocative, and layered. They compel readers to pause, consider, and appreciate the beauty and complexity hidden within the brevity of such phrases. The vibrant image of a “fiery ice” or the poignant emotion of a “mournful joy” exemplifies the power of oxymorons to turn a simple description into a striking, colorful tableau.

In the realm of storytelling, where capturing the reader’s attention and imagination is paramount, oxymorons function as a dynamic tool in the author’s arsenal. They enhance the text, not only by bringing a touch of unexpected novelty but also by adding depth and dimension.

Through their capacity to paint with broader strokes of the linguistic palette, oxymorons enrich narratives, making the prose not only more appealing and memorable but also imbuing it with a sense of vivid realism and emotional resonance.

Analysis and Interpretation of Oxymorons

Oxymorons, as literary devices, are phrases that combine contradictory or incongruous words. Analyzing and interpreting these can provide a deeper understanding of the text’s meaning, often revealing nuanced emotions, complex situations, or subtle ironies that the author intends to convey.

To analyze and interpret oxymorons, one might consider the following:

Symbolism in Literary Works

Oxymorons, as potent rhetorical instruments, permeate diverse realms of literature, and they particularly punctuate the world of poetry with their compelling paradoxical allure.

By fusing two diametrically opposed elements, oxymorons serve to craft expressions that are as unique as they are striking, resonating deeply with the reader and leaving an indelible imprint on their mind.

Take, for instance, the seminal poem “Easter 1916” by revered poet W.B. Yeats. In it, he employs the oxymoron “terrible beauty,” a stark contradiction that ingeniously encapsulates the jarring blend of admiration and horror elicited by the events of the Easter Rising.

This oxymoron becomes an emblem of the complicated emotions towards revolution— a testament to its capability to birth beauty and terror simultaneously.

Transitioning to the realm of narrative literature, consider the ubiquitous motif of the “love affair,” as witnessed in the saga of King Arthur and his clandestine romance with Queen Guinevere. This phrase, while not an oxymoron in the strictest sense, indeed carries within it an inherent contradiction that mirrors the one found in oxymorons.

It symbolizes the tumultuous interplay between passion and betrayal — an enduring testament to the dichotomous nature of human relationships where love and deception can coexist.

These examples underscore the inherent power of oxymorons and similarly structured phrases in literature. They serve as pivotal symbolic touchstones, reflecting the inherent contradictions and complexities of human emotions and experiences.

By employing such devices, authors and poets alike can delve deeper into the nuances of their themes, creating works that truly echo the multifaceted nature of human existence.

Understanding Contradictory Statements

Frequently, authors and poets are tasked with the challenge of articulating complex notions and emotions that resist encapsulation within the confines of a single term. In these instances, oxymorons prove to be an invaluable asset.

These intriguing linguistic constructs function as an advanced tool of figurative language, leveraging the power of contradiction and irony to delve into the depths of nuanced meanings.

Oxymorons, in their artful blend of disparate elements, convey a richness of expression that echoes the multifaceted reality of human experience. Their inherent contradiction is not merely a stylistic quirk; it is a purposeful exploration of life’s dualities, enigmatic paradoxes, and the bittersweet moments that nestle within the human condition.

By employing irony, oxymorons invite readers to navigate the labyrinthine corridors of a narrative, pushing them to unravel seemingly incongruous ideas and probe deeper into the author’s intended message. This not only enriches the reader’s understanding but also broadens their perspective, prompting them to see beyond the surface and appreciate the profound subtleties embedded within the text.

Thus, oxymorons, in their ability to weave together the threads of contradiction, serve as a distinctive literary device, enabling writers to express intricate concepts and emotions with enhanced depth, nuance, and resonance.

Understanding the Context

In the realm of literature, discerning the broader context in which an oxymoron is utilized is of paramount importance. Such comprehension is key to revealing the author’s intent and the true essence of the narrative.

It enables readers to ascertain whether the author has deployed this rhetorical device as a means of heightening dramatic impact, portraying contradiction, or illustrating instances of irony.

Context is the canvas upon which literary elements, such as oxymorons, come to life. It serves as the backdrop against which these contrasting terms interact and the landscape that influences their interpretation.

By delving into the narrative’s thematic nuances, the cultural or historical backdrop, or the unfolding events within the storyline, readers can glean a more comprehensive understanding of the purpose behind an oxymoron’s use.

For instance, an author may use the oxymoron “cruel kindness” to lend dramatic flair to a character’s actions, highlighting the paradoxical nature of their seemingly benevolent actions that yield devastating outcomes. Alternatively, in a satirical work, the same oxymoron could serve to underline irony, shedding light on societal hypocrisies.

Oxymoron Usage in Different Forms of Writing

Oxymorons, as a rhetorical device, find their place in various forms of writing. Here’s how they function across different genres:

Speeches and Essays

Oxymorons, by their very nature, weave together disparate terms, serving as a powerful tool in the art of rhetoric. These paradoxical pairings are frequently used in speeches and essays, playing pivotal roles in accentuating key points, presenting a dynamic interplay of contrasting ideas, and infusing the narrative with an undercurrent of humor.

The amalgamation of antonyms within an oxymoron doesn’t merely stir the reader’s intellect; it also triggers an array of emotional responses, thereby enhancing engagement. This can add a distinct flavor to the discourse, ranging from wistful poignancy to sardonic humor, depending on the choice of terms and the context of their use.

Venturing into the arena of business ethics, oxymorons like “ethical corruption” or “honest deception” wield the power to provoke introspection and stimulate deep thought. They shed light on the friction between diametrically opposed concepts, subtly drawing attention to the existence of ethical quandaries within business practices.

By putting these contradictions into stark relief, these oxymoronic expressions serve as a thought-provoking prompt, encouraging readers to explore the complex terrain of ethical dilemmas.

Short Stories and Novels

In the realm of short stories and novels, oxymorons serve as a dynamic literary tool, contributing significantly to the enrichment of narratives. Their strategic employment can imbue descriptions and character portrayals with added depth and vibrancy, effectively capturing the reader’s imagination.

Adding Depth and Color to Descriptions

Oxymorons, with their juxtaposition of contrasting elements, can bring life to descriptions, adding a layer of complexity and intrigue. The oxymoronic combination breathes life into otherwise standard descriptions, injecting them with a certain depth that allows the narrative to flourish.

For instance, a phrase like “deafening silence” can evoke the intensity of a quiet moment more effectively than a straightforward description.

Redefining Narrative Expectations

By introducing phrases like “true fiction” or “living ghost,” authors can redefine typical narrative expectations, challenging the readers’ perception and inviting them to question the boundaries between reality and illusion. Such expressions pique readers’ curiosity and compel them to delve deeper into the story, thus creating a more engaging reading experience.

Creating Intriguing and Memorable Characters

Character portrayals adorned with oxymoronic traits can result in intriguing and memorable personalities that captivate readers. A “cruel angel” or a “gentle giant,” for instance, presents a contradiction that is inherently intriguing. The interplay of such seemingly incompatible traits sparks curiosity, pushing readers to explore the layers of these characters and understand the complexities that define them.

Poetry serves as an exquisite canvas for the articulation of human experiences and emotions. It often employs oxymorons, a distinctive literary device, to craft vibrant imagery and delve into the intricate labyrinth of emotional complexity. The paradoxical harmony of oxymorons can express contradictory feelings or situations, thereby enriching the poem’s depth and resonance.

Creating Vivid Imagery

Poetry is a domain where words are artistically woven together to paint vivid mental pictures. Oxymorons, with their unique blend of contrasting terms, can conjure vivid, often unexpected, imagery.

Terms like “visible darkness ” or “fiery ice” can intrigue readers by presenting familiar concepts in a fresh, thought-provoking light, thereby adding richness to the poetic imagery.

Exploring Emotional Complexity

The essence of poetry often lies in its ability to capture and express the vast spectrum of human emotions, including their paradoxes and complexities. Oxymorons like “sweet sorrow” or “cruel kindness” brilliantly encapsulate these emotional intricacies, lending depth to the poet’s expression and providing readers with a nuanced understanding of these complex emotional states.

Evoking Strong Emotions

Oxymorons can stimulate potent emotional responses from readers. Phrases like “deafening silence” or “joyful tears” evoke a strong sense of the emotional intensity inherent in such paradoxical situations. By tapping into these visceral emotional responses, poets can create a deep connection with the reader, rendering their work more relatable and emotionally powerful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do oxymorons differ from paradoxes.

While both oxymorons and paradoxes involve contradiction, they are used differently. An oxymoron is a phrase made up of two opposing words used together for effect, like “bitter sweet.”

A paradox, on the other hand, is a statement or proposition that, despite sound reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable or self-contradictory.

How does an oxymoron differ from a contradiction?

While an oxymoron and a contradiction both involve opposing elements, they differ in their use and intention.

A contradiction usually denotes a conflict in a statement or situation where one part negates the other.

An oxymoron, on the other hand, intentionally brings together contradictory words to create a specific effect, such as evoking complex emotions or creating a humorous impact.

Do oxymorons always have to make sense?

While oxymorons involve contradiction, they usually make sense in the context they’re used.

The contradictory words come together to create a new meaning that can be understood, even if it initially seems illogical.

The purpose of an oxymoron is not to confuse, but to engage the reader or listener, provoke thought, or create a dramatic or humorous effect.

Do all languages use oxymorons?

Yes, the use of oxymorons is not unique to the English language. Many languages around the world use oxymorons in their literature, poetry, and everyday conversation.

However, the specific phrases and their connotations may vary based on the cultural and linguistic context.

Oxymorons are a vibrant thread in the fabric of our language. These intriguing contradictions allow us to explore complex emotions, ideas, and situations, often encapsulating profound truths in just a few words.

From the “cruel kindness” of a necessary truth to the “deafening silence” of an empty room, oxymorons bring color, depth, and emotional resonance to our communications.

Employed with skill and sensitivity, oxymorons have the potential to elevate our communication, turning simple words into powerful expressions of the human experience.

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Oxymoron — Definition and Examples

What is an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech created by combining two contradictory terms to present logically accurate ideas, such as "larger half". Oxymorons typically serve to emphasize conflict or contradictions, create humor or satire, and accentuate characteristics.

Emphasize Conflict/Contradiction: Writers make use of oxymorons as a rhetorical device to present conflicting ideas and add dramatic effect. They demonstrate the friction that exists between two opposite words.

"Fiend angelic": In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Juliet uses several oxymorons, including "fiend angelic," after hearing that Romeo has killed her cousin, Tybalt. The oxymorons highlight Juliet's conflicting thoughts regarding Romeo; she loves him yet finds him wicked due to his murderous actions.

Humor/Satire: When writers use oxymorons sarcastically, they create rhetorical oxymorons. Ultimately, these word combinations have a humorous effect. Typically, the literal meanings of the words in a rhetorical oxymoron are not contradictory; instead, they contrast figuratively.

Good morning: "Morning" often carries a negative connotation since not everyone feels refreshed and full of energy upon waking up. Therefore, combining the negative connotation of the word "morning" with "good" makes the phrase oxymoronic.

Airline food: People typically criticize the meals provided by airlines for not being of the highest quality. Presenting the phrase "airline food" as an oxymoron suggests the meal provided on a plane is the opposite of food.

Accentuate Characteristics: When juxtaposing two contradictory words, the characteristics of the words intensify.

Bittersweet: Using an oxymoron like bittersweet, instead of synonymous words such as sentimental or sorrowful, intensifies the emotion. Combining both bitter and sweet is a description that carries positive and negative characteristics.

The English word oxymoron comes from the Greek words “oxy,” meaning sharp or keen, and “moros,” meaning foolish.

Oxymoron examples

The following list contains well-known examples of oxymorons:

alone together

clearly misunderstood

deafening silence

found missing

freezer burn

genuine imitation

intense apathy

jumbo shrimp

larger half

original copy

random order

small crowd

unbiased opinion

virtual reality

Oxymoron in literature

The following literary works contain examples of oxymorons:

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare:

Feather of lead, bright smoke , cold fire , sick health , / Still- waking sleep , that is not what it is! / This love feel I, that feel no love in this.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte:

And now it is deluged with a nectarous flood--the young germs swamped-- delicious poison cankering them.

The Call of the Wild by Jack London:

With the aurora borealis flaming coldly overhead, or the stars leaping in the frost dance, and the land numb and frozen under its pall of snow, this song of the huskies might have been the defiance of life…

Oxymoron in poetry

Poets tend to use oxymorons more than novelists, as the device allows poets to use fewer words to say more, as is evidenced in the following examples:

"Do Not Go Gentle into that Good Night" by Dylan Thomas:

...who see with blinding sight / And you, my father, there on the sad height / Curse, bless , me now...

"A Prayer for my Daughter" by William Butler Yeats:

Imagining in excited reverie / That the future years had come, / Dancing to a frenzied drum, / Out of the murderous innocence of the sea.

Paradise Lost by John Milton:

No light, but rather darkness visible / Served only to discover sights of woe, / Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace / And rest can never dwell, hope never comes.

64 Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences

Oxymorons are figures of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined in order to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. The word oxymoron is derived from the Greek for pointedly foolish (oxys = sharp/keen and moros = foolish). 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. Here is a comprehensive list of 64 examples of oxymorons in sentences. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined.

Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences

• This is another fine mess you have got us into.
• There is a real love hate relationship developing between the two of them.
• Suddenly the room filled with a deafening silence .
• The comedian was seriously funny .
• You are clearly confused by the situation you have found yourself in.
• Her singing was enough to raise the living dead .
• Do you have the original copies that we requested?
• This is a genuine imitation Rolex watch.
• I really would like to try that new jumbo shrimp restaurant.
• His new girlfriend really is pretty ugly .
• Sorry, I can’t help you out right now, I am involved in my own minor crisis .
• Give me the fifty dollars you owe me or pay for dinner, it’s the same difference .
• My trip to Bali was very much a working holiday .
• I let out a silent scream as the cat walked through the door carrying a dead bird.
• You are going to have to use proofreading services, it is your only choice .
• The seventies was the era of free love .
• I will ask the professor for his unbiased opinion .
• The constant variable is the one that does not change.
• The sermon lasted for an  endless hour .
• We laughed and cried through the  tragic comedy.
• Parting is such  sweet sorrow.
• They couldn’t wait to get out  alone together.
• We’ll use plastic glasses at the picnic.
• The  student teacher  explained how to complete dissertation editing.
• The gossip is old news.
• The lady he eventually married is painfully beautiful .
• Wow! This ice cream is disgustingly delicious .
• Be careful in the playground, run slowly .
• Your apple pie is awfully good .
• A small crowd gathered to watch the concert.
• It’s an open secret that they have been having an affair for the past six months.
• He has a real passive aggressive personality.
• You were awfully lucky to escape the car crash unscathed.
• Stop being a big baby .
• I am sure I am growing smaller as I get older.
• She is my least favorite relation.
• The story was based on the concept of  a true myth .
• That is an example of the typically weird behavior she continually demonstrates.
• He has become an extremely unpopular celebrity .
• I’m on a heavy diet until my wedding day.
• I am a deeply superficial person.
• I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief .
• Good grief , we’re really late.
• I can’t make any promises but it’s a definite possibility .
• She was terribly pleased with her Birthday present.
• The army returned friendly fire as the enemy approached.
• He installed the new wireless cable in the television room.
• He was forced to stand down from his position as president.
• There will be zero tolerance in the future.
• I had no choice but to do what I was told.

Funny, Sarcastic and Cynical Oxymorons:

• Microsoft Works
• Military intelligence
• Government organization
• American history
• Business ethics
• Temporary tax increase
• Twelve-ounce pound cake
• Express Mail
• Marital bliss
• Congressional ethics
• Airline Food
• President Bush
• Peace Keeper Missile

Can you think of any examples of oxymorons in sentences? Leave a comment and share them with us all.

For more figurative language examples, see our guide to onomatopoeia .

112 thoughts on “64 Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences”

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How is “free love” an oxymoron?

the seventies of the era was free love

ahhhhhhhh funny!!!

wht are the different types of oxymoron

Happily Married! 😛

Love it! Thanks.

Does we have different types of oxymoron

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“oxymoron” is itself an oxymoron it means – clever foolishness.

Your an oxymoron….haha…anonymous….but you leave a photo!!

Political correctness has to be the biggest one of all! (or is it just a plain lie?)

Define a “good christian trump supporter”?

I watched the event from the dangerous safety of a tower

love is always an investment in another :—)

What abt bitter truf?

unconscious people are the living dead. Brain atrophy sets in as the brain is not used. Recovery is an erring process. The divine feeling of the promotion for servicing the queen and the social science of abduction, brake vandalism solitary confinement until property developers arrive. They do the pro motion together while divinely and scientifically opposed to the tango.

I’ve learnt something atleast

is uninvited guest an oxymoron?

Humane slaughter.

Common Sense (it’s so rare!!!)

She shouted! If my father were alive he’d turn in his grave at the sight of you 😂

“Texas justice” (in the cynical category)

HAHAHAHHAHAH DYING

It would be similar to “morally superior hiLIARy supporter”.

I went for tech help. He spent the entire 30 minutes telling me what a good listener he was!

Liberal think tank.

(Golf) Metal wood

Is victim´s rights an oxymoron?

I really love this site cus it stirredup my brain immune system

Really helped me

is mere yard an oxymorn

Black is my favorite color.

Is “I disagree to agree” an oxymoron?

Is “I disagree to agree” an oxymoron??

Donald J Trump, President of the Divided States of America = Oxymoron

government worker and religious scholar

intellectual rubbish

Illegal immigrant. By definition, “immigrants” arrived in the destination country legally.

is heroic travesty an oxymoron

Just ACT NATURAL.

Problobly, Yeah it shuold

Can oxymorons be true

Don’t know

Depressed Gay

Informed Democrat

NICE answer!

My daughter must’ve been hungry last night; I gave her half a pizza and she ate the whole half!

Or that trump is a truthful liar.

Agnostic Christian.

The party was simply superb!

He was deadly calm

It’s you’re NOT your david

TRY to RELAX

I just bought a new antique!

I just bought a new antique

You need to know proper grammar if YOU’RE going to insult someone.

Semi permanent, more uniqe, most unique

To SHIVA : * DO we have not DOES we have.

* Do we have, not DOES we have.

Bitter sweet Lead Balloon plastic sliver wear negative income paper towel

Going up to the Downs

Religious Freedom

hhahahhahahhhhahahhahahahah

Boom roasted David

*cough* teachers pet *cough*

“Clean” coal

Good To Tatum… CIVILity is one extreme The bellicosity of WAR is the other extreme—- CIVIL WAR And To Chris: lol😁 Love it! INFORMED DEMOCRAT for the same reason. To Peppa: Nailed it!-BITTER SWEET: PLASTIC SILVERWARE: PAPER TOWEL: NEGATIVE INCOME and LEAD BALLOON. ✓: NEW AGE ::CASH FLOW (cynical) NEGATIVE CASH FLOW :: EUTHANASIA: eu=good thanatos= death. :: ✓FOOL’S GOLD ✓BLIND-SIGHTED :: PEACEFUL-RESISTANCE BURN-UP vs BURN-DOWN HERE TO ETERNITY SNOWBALL IN HELL TEARS OF JOY WALKING DEAD DEADMAN WALKING ICY HOT :: RAP MUSIC (sarcasm) BIG BOY & LITTLE MAN (WWII bomb) :: SMART BLONDE DULL ROAR :: ILLEGAL CITIZEN:: BRIDGE GAP. :: POWER OUTAGE:: PAYDIRT:: GOVERNMENT WORKER TAX BENEFIT :: BEAUTY MARK

That’s what I was thinking!!?

My comment has not been posted to where I was replying!!?

Conservative Democrat, Pop Punk, Silent Drums, CNN News, 2019/2020 Bipartisan President Impeachment, Soft Rock, Educated Guess, Honest Politician, Snops Fact Checking, Weather Forecast

She is regular irregular to the school

After a futile search, she turned up missing.

FACEBOOK PRIVACY

Daily Express readers

Positively melancholic

Washing one hand with the other

What about “of course not”?

Without doubt the Moor’s Murderers were ‘pure evil’.

liberal logic, critical acclaim and democratic socialism.

A socially-distanced get-together!

Customer Service

The “intellectual dark web”

deadly alive

Trump library

When in Rome (travel bans) I did, no I didn’t Beach Ball (as in formal dance, which you can not have on the beach, unless you got council permission, which would probably vary from state to state, country to country. You could google it for your local area. There’s one; in on)

@David Ransom: Your first one nailed it however, you don’t seem to have grasped the concept in your 2nd attempt. Nice try. Keep at it.

Can you put a piece of toast in the toaster for me?

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Ethical Hacking

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I have the Oxymoron flu. It’s pretty ugly

Bruh it’s do we have

lmao poor david

‘You’re’ not ‘your.’ Your is possessive whereas you’re is an abreviation for you are.

Yeah uh… no.

🤣😂🤣 I wondered the same thing 🦋

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100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons

ThoughtCo. 

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

An oxymoron is a figure of speech , usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. This contradiction is also known as a  paradox . Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm .

Using Oxymorons

The word "oxymoron" is itself oxymoronic, which is to say contradictory. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys , which means "sharp," and moronos , which means "dull" or "stupid." Take this sentence, for example:

"This was a minor crisis and the only choice was to drop the product line," (Todd 2007).

There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. Read literally, they contradict themselves. A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite.

But once you become fluent in English , it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. As the example's author, Richard Watson Todd, said, "The true beauty of oxymorons is that, unless we sit back and really think, we happily accept them as normal English."

Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. In Romeo and Juliet, Act 1, Scene 1, we have a full 13 of them!

O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything of nothing first create! O heavy lightness, serious vanity! Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health! Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feel I, that feel no love in this.

Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron." Likewise, in 1975 comedian George Carlin popularized a few notable ones, including "military intelligence" and "business ethics."

100 Examples of Oxymorons

Like other kinds of figurative language , oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. You'll find common figures of speech, plus references to works of classic and pop culture.

• absent presence (Sidney 1591)
• alone together
• beggarly riches (Donne 1624)
• bittersweet
• brisk vacancy (Ashbery 1975)
• cheerful pessimist
• clearly misunderstood
• comfortable misery (Koontz 2001)
• conspicuous absence
• cool passion
• crash landing
• cruel kindness
• darkness visible (Milton 1667)
• deafening silence
• deceptively honest
• definite maybe
• deliberate speed
• devout atheist
• eloquent silence
• exact estimate
• extinct life
• falsely true (Tennyson 1862)
• festive tranquility
• found missing
• freezer burn
• friendly takeover
• genuine imitation
• growing smaller
• historical present
• humane slaughter
• idiot savant
• impossible solution
• intense apathy
• joyful sadness
• jumbo shrimp
• larger half
• lascivious grace (Shakespeare 1609)
• lead balloon
• liquid marble (Jonson 1601)
• living dead
• living sacrifices
• loosely sealed
• loud whisper
• loyal opposition
• magic realism
• melancholy merriment (Byron 1819)
• militant pacifist
• minor miracle
• negative growth
• negative income
• one-man band
• only choice
• openly deceptive
• open secret
• original copy
• overbearingly modest
• paper tablecloth
• paper towel
• peaceful conquest
• plastic glasses
• plastic silverware
• poor health
• pretty ugly
• properly ridiculous
• random order
• recorded live
• resident alien
• same difference
• scalding coolness (Hemingway 1940)
• seriously funny
• shrewd dumbness
• silent scream
• small crowd
• "The Sound of Silence" (Simon 1965)
• static flow
• student teacher
• "sweet sorrow" (Shakespeare 1595)
• terribly good
• theoretical experience
• transparent night (Whitman 1865)
• true fiction
• unbiased opinion
• unconscious awareness
• upward fall
• working vacation

On first appearance, oxymorons may seem like the result of a thoughtless writer or speaker—but in fact, they are a wonderfully useful figure of speech that can help add complexity and humor. Which may or may not be an unbiased opinion.

• Ashbery, John. Self-Portrait in a Convex Mirror . Viking Press, 1975.
• Byron, Lord. "Don Juan." 1819.
• Donne, John. Devotions upon Emergent Occasions . 1624.
• Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom the Bell Tolls. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1940.
• Jonson, Ben. "Poetaster." 1601.
• Koontz, Dean. One Door Away From Heaven . Bantam Books, 2001.
• Milton, John. Paradise Lost . Samuel Simmons, 1667.
• Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet . 1595.
• Shakespeare, William. "Sonnet 40." 1609.
• Sidney, Philip. Astrophel and Stella . 1591.
• Simon, Paul. "The Sound of Silence." Tom Wilson, 1965.
• Tennyson, Alfred. " Lancelot and Elaine." Idylls of the King . 1862.
• Todd, Richard Watson. Much Ado About English: Up and Down the Bizarre Byways of a Fascinating Language. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2007.
• Whitman, Walt. "When Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom’d." Sequel to Drum-Taps . 1865.

5 Common Figures of Speech Explained

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Figures of speech – Definition and Examples of Oxymoron

Figures of speech – oxymoron, what is oxymoron.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines incongruous or contradictory terms. The plural is oxymorons or oxymora .

An oximoron can be made of an adjective and a noun:

• Deafening silence
• Living dead
• Open secret
• Virtual reality

Oximorons can also be a combination of a noun and a verb.

• The silence whistles

More figures of speech

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Definition and Examples of Oxymoron

Oxymoron (literally, the “sense” in the masquerade of “folly” ), is a collocation of two or more logically contradictory terms in a sentence, that literally correspond with one another in sense, such as:

“A coward dies often, a brave man but once”

“He is a living death” (said of a man in a consumption, or of a malefactor under condemnation.)

“An idiot or a madman is his own grave”

Oxymoron also consists in how the afflictions of a righteous man may be termed, in accordance to the blessed notion in which the Scripture signifies them:

“salutary wounds”

“healthful diseases”

“happy pains”

“profitable losses”

“bitter sweets,” and

“exalting absements”

Oxymoron may be regarded as a sub-set of paradox Opens in new window , which encompasses a broader spectrum of logically contradictory terms.

The term is first recorded as latinized Greek oxymōrum, in Maurus Servius Honoratus Opens in new window (c. AD 400); it is derived from the Greek ὀξύς oksús “sharp, keen, pointed” and μωρόςmōros “dull, stupid, foolish”; as it were,

“sharp-dull”, “keenly stupid”, or “pointedly foolish”.

Hence, the word oxymoron is autological Opens in new window , i.e. it is itself a signification of an Oxymoron .

Notable Examples in the Scriptures

Instances of Oxymoron may be found with in the Scriptures:

— (Prov. xi:24)

— (Acts v:41)

(Here, Glory and shame seem so contradictory; but it is the highest honour to be used with indignity for the cause of Christ and his testimony.)

Notable Examples in the Literature

We may meet with examples of Oxymoron in some of the finest erudite scholars:

• He is unmercifully merciful ; said of the character of a Prince who does not punish flagitious offenders in such a manner, as a wise regard to the general good of his subjects requires.

— (Dr. Young)

— (Dr. Barrow, Sermon on the Profitableness of Godliness, vol. 1. P. 17)

— (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, 1.1.175 – 177)

— (By O. Henry, on describing New York in his story, The Duel [1910]).

Similar Figures of Contrary

•  Irony Opens in new window
•  Paradox Opens in new window
•  Synoeciosis Opens in new window
• Silver Rhetoricae, Oxymoron Opens in new window
• Wikipedia Oxymoron Opens in new window
• Thomas O. Sloane, Encyclopedia of Rhetoric, Volume 1 . Oxymoron Opens in new window
• Thomas Gibbons, Rhetoric; Or, A View of Its Principal Tropes and Figures, in Their Origin [...] Oxymoron Opens in new window

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Oxymoron Figure of Speech

Oxymorons aren’t just a quirk of the English language; they’re a powerful figure of speech that can make your writing more compelling. These unique phrases bring together conflicting ideas in a way that adds depth and intrigue to your prose. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or a newbie, understanding how to use oxymorons can make your text pop. For a more detailed understanding, you can explore these oxymoron examples from various sources.

What is an Oxymoron Figure of Speech? – Definition

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite words or ideas to create a new, often complex meaning. For example, phrases like “jumbo shrimp” or “deafening silence” are classic oxymorons that invite readers to explore the tension between the conflicting concepts. If you’re interested in how oxymorons are used in literature, you can check out this article on oxymorons in literature .

What is the best Example of an Oxymoron Figure of Speech?

One of the most iconic examples of an oxymoron in literature is “O brawling love! O loving hate!” from Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet.” This line perfectly encapsulates the conflicting emotions of love and hate, creating a complex emotional landscape that resonates with readers even today. For those who enjoy poetry, you might find oxymorons in poetry equally fascinating.

100 Oxymoron Figure of Speech Examples

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• Deafening Silence – William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”
• Living Dead – George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead”
• Original Copy – Common parlance
• Act Naturally – Oxymoron in common speech
• Passive Aggressive – Psychological terminology
• Alone Together – Title of a book by Sherry Turkle
• Seriously Funny – Stand-up comedy jargon
• Small Crowd – Reported by news outlets
• Virtual Reality – Tech industry term
• Same Difference – Colloquial expression
• Old News – Common phrase in journalism
• Random Order – Mathematical term
• Found Missing – Police reports
• Awfully Good – Popular critique term
• Minor Crisis – News headline
• Growing Smaller – Economic terminology
• Clearly Confused – Educational language
• Exact Estimate – Construction jargon
• Freezer Burn – Culinary term
• True Myth – C.S. Lewis writings
• Only Choice – Philosophical discussion
• Open Secret – Political term
• Rolling Stop – Traffic terminology
• Paid Volunteer – Nonprofit sector
• Jumbo Shrimp – Culinary arts
• Liquid Gas – Scientific term
• Constant Change – Business jargon
• Passive Resistance – Social activism
• Plastic Glasses – Eyewear industry
• Bittersweet Symphony – Song by The Verve
• Controlled Chaos – Military term
• Definite Maybe – Everyday conversation
• Civil War – Historical events
• Crash Landing – Aviation term
• Actively Waiting – Customer service jargon
• Terribly Pleased – British colloquialism
• Negative Growth – Economic reports
• Tragic Comedy – Shakespearean plays
• Detailed Summary – Academic papers
• Lesser Evil – Political debates
• Cautiously Optimistic – Media interviews
• Painfully Beautiful – Art critique
• Virtual Community – Online platforms
• Harmless Lie – Moral dilemmas
• Random Pattern – Design term
• Unbiased Opinion – Journalism ethics
• Seriously Joking – Social interaction
• Quiet Riot – Band name
• Passive Income – Financial planning
• Old Boys – Elite social clubs
• Ill Health – Medical reports
• Awfully Pretty – Fashion industry
• Walk-on star – Theater term
• Definite Possibility – Scientific jargon
• Pretty Ugly – Pop culture phrase
• Known Secret – Espionage term
• Passive Leadership – Management studies
• Silent Scream – Horror genre
• Advanced Basics – Educational curriculum
• Fuzzy Logic – Computer science
• Larger Half – Common expression
• Holy War – Religious text
• Restless Sleep – Sleep studies
• Same Opposite – Philosophical discourse
• Living Fossil – Paleontological term
• Recorded Live – Entertainment industry
• Student Teacher – Educational field
• Brief Speech – Public speaking
• Genuine Fake – Art forgery
• Constant Variable – Mathematical terminology
• Passive-aggressive – Psychological studies
• Minor Miracle – Religious discourse
• Friendly Fire – Military terminology
• Growing Smaller – Environmental context
• Organized Mess – Personal description
• Original Spin – Political jargon
• Partially Complete – Project status
• Soft Rock – Music genre
• Liquid Solid – Physics term
• Rising Fall – Market trends
• Accurate Rumors – Gossip circles
• Seriously Silly – Children’s books
• Tight Slacks – Fashion paradox
• Controlled Freedom – Political studies
• Qualified Success – Career lingo
• Working Vacation – Corporate culture
• Virtual Friend – Social media term
• Light Darkness – Religious texts
• Fresh Rotten – Food quality
• Painful Pleasure – Emotional complexity
• Quiet Noise – Sound studies
• Sad Smile – Emotional state
• Dry Humor – Comedy style
• Active Retirement – Lifestyle choice
• Complex Simplicity – Artistic expression
• Planned Spontaneity – Social dynamics
• Thoughtless Consideration – Moral dilemma
• Brave Coward – Character analysis
• Blind Sight – Metaphysical discourse
• Near Miss – Aviation reports

Parody Oxymoron Figure of Speech Examples

Dive into the amusing world of parodies where oxymorons play a pivotal role in heightening humor and satire. These contradictory yet compelling phrases are key to crafting parodies that are not only entertaining but also intellectually stimulating.

• Act Naturally – Source: Comedy Skits
• Seriously Joking – Source: Satirical Articles
• Awfully Good – Source: Parody Songs
• Same Difference – Source: Comedy Shows
• Virtual Reality – Source: Tech Parodies
• Organized Chaos – Source: Political Parodies
• Passive-Aggressive – Source: Social Commentary Memes
• Original Copy – Source: Artistic Parodies
• Small Crowd – Source: Theater Performances
• Known Secret – Source: Spy Parodies

Oxymoron Figure of Speech Examples for Class 10

Incorporate oxymorons into your class 10 syllabus to make learning more engaging and multi-dimensional. These phrases help students develop analytical skills while appreciating the complexities of language.

• Deafening Silence – Source: Literature Textbook
• Open Secret – Source: Social Studies
• Passive Resistance – Source: History Book
• Tragic Comedy – Source: Drama Class
• Liquid Gas – Source: Science Textbook
• Bittersweet – Source: Poetry Assignment
• Freezer Burn – Source: Home Economics
• Civil War – Source: History Lessons
• Controlled Chaos – Source: Philosophy Discussions
• Living Dead – Source: English Literature

Oxymorons in Various Contexts

Oxymorons captivate us by marrying contradictory terms into one fascinating expression. This figure of speech is a staple in both literature and everyday language, offering intriguing complexity within simple phrases. Recognizing and understanding oxymorons can enrich your reading experience and elevate your own writing. For a lighter take on the subject, you might enjoy these funny oxymorons .

What Do Oxymorons Represent?

Oxymorons are not mere quirks of language; they are a robust literary tool that embodies paradox and complexity. When two contradictory words are placed together, an oxymoron often captures a more profound truth or complexity that either word couldn’t achieve independently. They are particularly useful in exploring dichotomies, highlighting contradictions, or adding a layer of depth to your thoughts and expressions.

For instance, in the term “deafening silence,” the oxymoron is used to express a silence so intense that it feels almost loud or overwhelming. This helps in capturing the essence of a situation that is too complex to describe with a single word or phrase. So, oxymorons serve as compact vessels that contain within them multifaceted ideas, making them ideal for both literary and everyday usage.

Oxymorons are not mere quirks of language; they are a robust literary tool that embodies paradox and complexity. When two contradictory words are placed together, an oxymoron often captures a more profound truth or complexity that either word couldn’t achieve independently. They are particularly useful in exploring dichotomies, highlighting contradictions, or adding a layer of depth to your thoughts and expressions. If you’re interested in the emotional depth that oxymorons can offer, you might want to read about emotional oxymorons .

What is an Oxymoron Figure of Speech for Kids?

An oxymoron for kids is essentially a simplified version of the complex figure of speech we commonly encounter. Teaching oxymorons to kids can be both educational and entertaining, helping them appreciate the richness and complexity of language at an early age. For more on this, you can visit oxymorons for kids .

Let’s take the example of “bittersweet.” At first glance, “bitter” and “sweet” seem like complete opposites. But when you taste dark chocolate, you realize it’s both! Here, the oxymoron serves as a wonderful introduction to the complexities of flavors, emotions, and situations kids might face. Hence, introducing oxymorons at a young age can serve as a building block for critical thinking, language development, and even emotional intelligence.

In summary, oxymorons for kids aren’t just child’s play; they’re a gateway to a more nuanced understanding of language and life itself.

How do you write an Oxymoron Figure of Speech? – Step by Step Guide

Oxymorons can add depth and nuance to your writing or speech, but how do you craft the perfect oxymoron? Here is a simple, step-by-step guide to help you master this intriguing figure of speech. If you’re looking for a more comical approach, you might find these comical oxymorons interesting.

Step 1: Identify the Context

Before you start, understand the context in which you intend to use the oxymoron. Knowing the theme, subject, or tone can guide you towards choosing a fitting oxymoron.

Step 2: Brainstorm Opposing Concepts

List down words or phrases that are inherently contradictory but could make sense when put together. For instance, “deafening” and “silence” are opposing ideas, but they work in unison to describe an overpowering quietness.

Step 3: Test the Pairing

Before finalizing, see if the words you’ve chosen truly create an impactful oxymoron. The terms should bring a new layer of meaning when combined.

Step 4: Use it in a Sentence

An oxymoron is most effective when it fits naturally into a sentence or phrase. Test out your oxymoron in a full sentence to check if it enhances your point.

Step 5: Review and Revise

Read the sentence out loud or get a second opinion. Make any necessary revisions to ensure the oxymoron adds value to your communication.

Tips for Using Oxymoron Figure of Speech

While oxymorons can be engaging, using them too frequently can lessen their impact. An oxymoron should be pertinent to the subject you are discussing. A misplaced oxymoron can confuse the reader or listener. For more everyday examples, you can check out everyday oxymorons .

Tip 1: Don’t Overdo It

While oxymorons can be engaging, using them too frequently can lessen their impact.

Tip 2: Keep it Relevant

An oxymoron should be pertinent to the subject you are discussing. A misplaced oxymoron can confuse the reader or listener.

Tip 3: Aim for Subtlety

Sometimes the most effective oxymorons are those that aren’t immediately obvious but require a second thought to fully grasp their complexity.

Tip 4: Use in Titles or Headings

Oxymorons catch attention and provoke thought, making them excellent for titles, headings, or slogans.

Tip 5: Experiment with Variations

Don’t hesitate to modify or coin new oxymorons that suit your purpose. Innovation can make your writing truly stand out.

By incorporating these tips and following the step-by-step guide, you can proficiently utilize oxymorons to enrich your writing or speech, adding layers of meaning and drawing your audience into a deeper engagement with your work.

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Oxymoron Figure of Speech: How to Use Oxymorons in Common Day to Day Life?

Have you ever noticed someone who is fluent in English, using a variety of figures of speech? The figure of speech is itself to accentuate the words. That is why several writers and poets use a variety of figures of speech throughout their creations. Even with the use of a single figure of speech you can amplify the effect of your essay or writing piece.

In this article, we will talk about one such type of figure of speech that is more common but hardly people know its name: Oxymoron. In this article, you will find oxymoron meaning and its example.

What is Oxymoron?

Oxymoron figure of speech two different or Opposite words are combined to create a unique word. This word seems absurd yet conveys a perfect meaning. The oxymoron is derived from the Greek word oxys and moros. Here ‘oxys’ imeans sharp and ‘moron’ means dull. As you can see you were here to different and totally contrast words are combined to create the name oxymoron itself.

Also Read: Daily Routine English Conversation: Make Your Communication Skills Effective

Common Oxymoron Examples

Also Read: Modern English Words Used in Conversation: Let’s Learn Effective English Speaking Ethics!

Use in Literature

#1. “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow That I shall say good night till it be morrow.”

William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

#2. “I have passed with a nod of the head Or polite meaningless words, Or have lingered awhile and said Polite meaningless words, And thought before I had done Of a mocking tale or a gibe To please a companion Around the fire at the club, Being certain that they and I But lived where motley is worn: All changed, changed utterly: A terrible beauty is born.”

William Butler Yeats, “Easter 1916”

#3. “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”

Animal Farm by George Orwell

#4. “Alas, that love, whose view is muffled still, Should, without eyes, see pathways to his will! Where shall we dine?—O me! What fray was here? Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all. Here’s much to do with hate but more with love. Why then, O brawling love, O loving hate, O anything of nothing first created! O heavy lightness, serious vanity, Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms! Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health, Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! This love feels like I feel no love in this.”

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

#5. “Cause all of me Loves all of you Love your curves and all your edges All your perfect imperfections Give your all to me I’ll give my all to you You’re my end and my beginning Even when I lose I’m winning”

John Legend, “All of Me”

#6. ” And peradventure had he seen her first She might have made this and that other world Another world for the sick man; but now The shackles of an old love straitened him, His honour rooted in dishonour stood, And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true.”

Alfred, Lord Tennyson, “Lancelot and Elaine” in Idylls of the King

Also Read: English Conversation Sentences: Buckle Up with Spoken English Conversation Practice

Oxymoron Figure of Speech Example in Sentences

# The movie was awfully good. # The dress was pretty ugly. # The drama is a tragic comedy # She had poor health. # You need to give an unbiased opinion. # The badge was loosely connected to the blazer. # Rebecca is an expert in the no-makeup makeup look. # The writer has just submitted his final draft. # This is seriously funny. # His dad is on a working vacation. # Rather than passive learning, everyone should focus on active learning. # They were in a love-hate relationship. # They were supposed to act naturally. # The weight of the bag is approximately equal to this one. # North and South America was engaged in the Civil war. # You have to consider the even-odds of life. # I am going nowhere. # The cart had jumbo shrimp. # The pig enjoyed its mud bath. # This is old news. # He had a sad smile. # Believe in the sound of silence. # The film was based on the Walking Dead. Also Read: Daily English Conversation Dialogues: Category Wise Dialogues for Everyday Conversations

Was it interesting? For more such related articles and to boost your English preparation, visit the FluentLife website. This website has different informative articles and affordable courses to help you boost your English preparation. To know more and enrol yourself for the demo classes, visit the website now.

Also Read: How to Remember Vocabulary Words? 9 Best Ways to Memorize English Words Fast

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