For example, oxymoron phrases such as marital bliss, military intelligence,andbusiness ethics,depending on how they are used as figures of speech, can be effective literary devices to indicate irony. After all, if you find yourself using an existing oxymoron, that means you're relying on a term that someone else had to think up. Oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposing words or contradictory words to convey a new idea. genuine imitation. Oxymoron phrases can be figuratively true, but not literally true. Browse 110 oxymoron stock photos and images available, or search for contradiction or irony to find more great stock photos and pictures. An oxymoron is a figure of speech made up of words with very different meanings. tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. Answer (1 of 9): Google "literary devices list with examples". Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. Both the concept of honor and dishonor and the phrase "falsely true" are examples of oxymoron. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . Therefore, the reader is left in some suspense to wonder what events or feelings would result in such a response received by the character.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_12',129,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'literarydevices_net-leader-1','ezslot_13',129,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-literarydevices_net-leader-1-0_1');.leader-1-multi-129{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}. Seeing these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they're used. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. Oh my God, you have Cabbage Patch! Oxus, which is the first instance of oxy, is of Greek origin and means sharp, while moros, standing for . FAQs on Oxymoron. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! Allscrabblewords.com is not affiliated with SCRABBLE, Mattel, Spear, Hasbro, Zynga, or the Words with Friends games in any way. Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone. Well . Information provided is without warranty or claim of accuracy. My play was a complete success. This phrase qualifies as an oxymoron because the words "same" and "difference" have opposite meanings. 2023 ALLSCRABBLEWORDS.com. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. As Professor Brian Vickers has observed, "It is a sad proof of the decline of rhetoric that in modern colloquial English the phrase 'a figure of speech' has come to mean something false, illusory or insincere." All words from AtoZ, kindergarten - SAT grades, poetry, lyrics, quotes, definitions and word data provided throughout pages of this site are the property and copyright of their owners. Unlike figurative language irony, an oxymoron can be easily detected by listeners as the words are easy to catch because of their unique nature. The word "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron. Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. Together, these words indicate that Holden takes pride in how adept he is at lyinga behavior that is generally associated with indignity. Determining Word Rank The word rank metric is a measure of word frequency, with frequent words corresponding to higher ranks. Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? Provide words that can be used twice or more in one sentence with example sentences. When someone says a phrase such as "clearly confused," the speaker is finding a new way to describe that individual or object. *** The text was digitally superimposed and a release is provided ***. Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences Seperate words by area of focus. For some the term is an oxymoron, used only jokingly when referring to the number of keggers that one manages to get trashed at during a school term. Oxymoron: a combination of contradictory words. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. pronounced: ox-ee-MOR-on | plural: oxymora, oxymorons. 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, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words. Paradox is a literary device in which a statement or group of statements features initially contrasting ideas. Once we are able to recognize . "The Sound of Silence": Song by Simon . If one or more words can be unscrambled with all the letters entered plus one new letter, then they will also be displayed. It's likely you've used, or at least heard, a few oxymorons in your everyday life, even if you didn't realize it at the time. Well, you and I have different management styles. For example, as we covered above, Shakespeare used oxymorons to describe strong, opposing emotions that often occur together, and also to show how the friction between those two feelingslove and hate, or love and pain, for examplecan coexist and shape characters' experiences. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. 'Hiemal,' 'brumation,' & other rare wintry words. Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. Reading & Writing. Oxymoron is often, if not deliberately used to add flavor or to add some comic relief to serious speeches or even through writing or essays. Oxymoron examples. Is this the tiny town from Footloose? As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. The phrase "cruel kindness" is an oxymoron. The audience was a failure. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". To sum up, an oxymoron is not simply a contradiction in terms. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Without, or with, offence to friends or foes. The answer is the oxymoron. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday expression: insertListLink('', 2, 2, 'shortexamples'). Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Need more synonyms now? Sign up for our weekly newsletters and get: By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions These figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language. One of the best known examples of oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp.' How can something be both 'jumbo' (huge) and 'shrimp' (which means small)? "A terrible beauty is born," - from Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. We found a total of 35 words by unscrambling the letters in oxymoron. Writers and poets have used it for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities. Searching "two syllable words with qu in the middle", "ab in the center",etc. Remember, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts. Audience Familarity refers to the ability of the audience to recognize and understand a word. This would provide a list of words with letters in a specific order, such as the consonants in the order of ntr. This cascade of oxymorons, placed one after the other, heightens the contrast between Romeo's idea of love and what he's actually experiencing. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. 'Simile' and 'metaphor' are just the beginning. The Readability Analyzer can analyze a passage of text and tell you the relative ease in which an entire passage of text can be read and understood by others. For instance, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says to Romeo in Romeo and Juliet that "Parting is such sweet sorrow." O loving hate!"). MyEnglishClub.com - eQuiz.Me - Tefl.NET, 1997-2023 EnglishClub.com All Rights ReservedWorld's premier FREE educational website for learners + teachers of English England since 1997. The word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron itself, derived from the Greek words "Oxys" (meaning "sharp") and "Moros . clearly misunderstood. Because there are so many oxymorons, the paired words take on a clichd tone that reflects on the quality of Romeo's "love" for Rosamund, which (we know from the title, "Romeo and Juliet") is fleeting and hasn't anything to do with the love affair that drives the rest of the play. Therefore, the linguistic skill demonstrated in this oxymoron is a layered. 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. Thus, an oxymoron might be a configuration of words that expresses a paradox, but the oxymoron is not, itself, the paradox. Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Root word search. Interested in readability? William Shakespeare was known to sprinkle them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. ( Technology, Education, Science, Psychology, etc. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. It involves pairing words that imply different ideas or meanings next to each other to create a deeper meaning in the context. Scrabble point value for oxymoron: 20 points. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. Instant PDF downloads. There is, we regret to inform you, no commonly used verb form of the word. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. civil war. 4 Answers. An oxymoron uses two contrasting words, but they . Learn a new word every day. Britannica Dictionary definition of OXYMORON [count]: a combination of words that have opposite or very different meanings. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. But once you become fluent in English, it's easy to recognize such oxymorons for the figures of speech that they are. The use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills. This love feel I, that feel no love in this. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. 12. An oxymoron combines two contradictory words to give them a deeper and more poetic meaning. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined. Some examples of oxymorons include: Sweet sorrow; Cruel kindness; Living dead; The focus of antithesis is opposites rather than contradictions. There are quite a few in just the first three letters. One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Wow, these dolls are great. 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Contradiction in terms, England, a true oxymoron occurs when Juliet says Romeo!, they want to be witty and show they can use words to give them a deeper meaning oxymoron finder context!, while moros, standing for with indignity the beginning every important on... Comedy and display wit being processed may be a unique identifier stored a... Sound of Silence & quot ; musicians often use oxymorons as a device! Related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and sonnets a profound statement when they oxymorons..., noun: needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea,,! From the context of sentences may provide a better idea of how and why they 're.... That oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or remark!