Althoughthe adjective "sweet" evokes a giddy, romantic emotion, the word "sorrow" callsto mind the much less happy, far more depressing aspect of having tobid farewell to someone you'd rather not leave. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets, and William Shakespeare sprinkled them throughout his plays, poems, and sonnets. They can be used for emphasis, dramatic effect, or to highlight irony. Fun Fact: Oxymoron comes from the Greek word okss (meaning keen) and mros (meaning stupid). However, if you think too hard about the meaning, you'll realize that on the surface it doesn't quite make sense. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposite words together. OXYMORON. An example of dramatic irony comes from the play Oedipus Rex. Literary Use:. Oxymoron Examples . Andrej Dubravsky. Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. However, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together. If you're in school to become an educator, you might have to spend a semester as a student teacher. There are plenty of other oxymoron examples in pop culture. 3. Learn all about effective imageryandwhat personification is with our expert guides. Antithesis places two opposite ideas together. An oxymoron is a paradoxical phrase or pair of words that contradicts itself. Terms|Privacy Policy|Refund Policy|Affiliate Disclosure, Oxymorons are one of the seasonings in great, And today, youll see exactly how this flavorful figurative language helps fold more flair and fun into any, Writers have used them for centuries as a, to describe lifes oddities, conflicts, incongruities, heartbreak, and craziness. Sprinkle in a few to evoke a laugh, a sense of wonder, drama, playfulness, and more. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. Want to learn more about figures of speech, besides oxymorons and paradoxes? Made By You. The word is derived from two ancient Greek words: oxys, which means "sharp," and moronos, which means "dull" or "stupid." The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". The term itself contains two opposing ideas, from the Greek word oxys, meaning "sharp," and moronos, meaning "dull" or "stupid.". Alfred, Lord Tennyson uses three examples of oxymoron in one sentence in Idylls of the King. There are many great oxymorons out there, and more are discovered and invented every day. Tag: creative oxymorons. The violent display ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries. The College Entrance Examination BoardTM does not endorse, nor is it affiliated in any way with the owner or any content of this site. In this scene, Juliet utters the phrase "sweet sorrow" to describe the feeling she has when having to say goodbye to Romeo. These lines come from the hit 2013 song "All of Me" recorded by John Legend. While a paradox is the opposition of ideas or themes, an oxymoron is a contradiction merely between words. Answer: * This list is just a random order. 3. An example of a paradox in literature is from George Orwell's Animal Farm. "The Sound of Silence": Song by Simon & Garfunkel. As a kid, you might have attended a slumber party where you played practical jokes on your friends. With the first oxymoron,"perfect imperfections," the speaker is making it clear that his lovers flaws are ultimately what make her the perfect partner for him. Funny Oxymoron Quotes. Miscellaneous; . - Julius Caesar Value: Literary oxymora should reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Keep going to discover even more. The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings. Sorrow and sweet, while not directly antonyms, are contradictory in their connotations. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. An oxymoron takes two words with opposing meanings and puts them together to make sense in a strange or different way. If this statement is indeed false as it says, then this would actually make it true. The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. The lyrics of this powerful piano ballad make use of several oxymorons. May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. Oxymoron is used frequently in literature because it can serve so many functions. "It's been a hard days night, and I've been working like a dog." - "A Hard Day's Night," The Beatles. Get Free Guides to Boost Your SAT/ACT Score, our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. Here are a few more for your list: Same difference Terrible beauty Only choice Honest thief Silent scream Minor crisis Small crowd Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. The word oxymoron is derived from a late-Greek word. And today, you'll see exactly how this flavorful figurative language helps fold more flair and fun into any sentence you write. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Lancelot and Elaine" inIdylls of the King. By definition, it is impossible for something to be more equal than another because equal means the same. Perhaps a soldier was killed by friendly fire. He . I am a deeply superficial person. Nordquist, Richard. When you order your jumbo shrimp, you might hope that there is an open bar. The cop-show investigators well-chosen use of eloquent, A songs amazing melody may make it a fan-favorite. Despite what it might sound like, noan oxymoron isnt something you can call your little brother when hes bugging you. O loving hate! It's the people I tell them to that can't keep them. Paul Fussell, Wartime, 1989 The phrase "cruel kindness" is an oxymoron. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs. An oxymoron can be a word or phrase in one of these formats:. Oxymorons and juxtapositions are closely related literary terms. For example; "bittersweet" "civil war" or "organised chaos." Oxymorons may not seem like they make sense on their own but once you have the context they work like a charm. And today, youll see exactly how this flavorful figurative language helps fold more flair and fun into any sentence you write. Artist Andy Warhol once described himself as a deeply superficial person. The other two oxymorons emphasize the fact that no matter what happensfor example,no matter how sad or defeated the speaker might feelthere willalways be a silver lining in that he'swith the love of his life. Numbering it wouldn't make it any different, in my unbiased opinion. Like other kinds of figurative language, oxymorons (or oxymora) are often found in literature. Generally, the ideas will come astwo separate words placed side by side. Here are 67 examples that we think youll love. There are plenty more to be discovered! Here are a few examples. ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score, How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League, Is the ACT easier than the SAT? I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. This is often used in true fiction, rhetoric, pop . Example Also, mastering, Both are contradictions, but the big difference between oxymoron and paradox is that a, is something you think about. 100 Examples of Oxymorons absent presence (Sidney 1591) alone together awful good beggarly riches (Donne 1624) bittersweet brisk vacancy (Ashbery 1975) cheerful pessimist civil war clearly misunderstood comfortable misery (Koontz 2001) conspicuous absence cool passion crash landing cruel kindness . "Cowards die many times before their deaths.". By signing in, you agree to our Terms and Conditions An oxymoron is a language device that uses contrast. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. Even if you're a wise fool you can show real potential. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. This stanza, from Lord Tennysons retelling of the tale of King Arthur, usesseveral oxymorons for poetic effect and as a way to emphasize the conundrum that Lancelot, Arthurs most loyal knight and friend, finds himself in. An oxymoron may contain antonyms like ugly: Pretty in English translates to attractive and ugly in reverse. What Are Some Examples of Oxymorons in Pop Culture? The story was a true myth. Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. "And it seems to me you lived your life, Like a candle in the wind." - "Candle in the Wind," Elton John. It shows what an oxymoron is, some examples from the play, and steps to a creative hands-on visual activity to enforce what students have learned. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(360031, '21006efe-96ea-47ea-9553-204221f7f333', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. Definitely, Maybe: 2008 film. ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. We'll also take a look at many fun and often funny examples of oxymorons. Your writing will connect with your readers emotions, youll keep their attention all the way through, and theyll come to the end wishing there was more. Part of Speech: Noun. 20 Editing Tips From Professional Writers, How to Use Alliteration to Improve Your Writing, Improve Your English Grammar With These Sites. Need more help with this topic? Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. Oxymoron: a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" or "to make haste slowly."Rhetorical oxymora (e.g., "bipartisan cooperation" or "business ethics"), on the other hand, are expressions composed of words that are not inherently mutually exclusive but express an opinion that the two cannot occur . Thenyou'll need to knowwhat to expect on exam day, including what kinds of questions you'll be asked and how much time you'll have. Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is! I'm making it up as I remember things. Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. Oxymorons are one of the "seasonings" in great writing. "There's daggers in men's smiles.". $8.75. Also, mastering the oxymoron is an elegant way to weave clever wordplay into your creative writing. "Parting is such sweet sorrow." On the nightly news, you might hear about an escaped prisoner or a controversy with a foreign national. Oedipus curses his father's killer, but he is unaware that he is actually his father's killer and has cursed himself. Sarah ate the whole piece of pie. Each line uses parallel structure and contrasting ideas. Examples include phrases like "bittersweet" and "icy hot." Foil is where characters contrast. Preparing totake the AP Literature test? Saying The bag is brown. is boring. When my boyfriend gave me a definite maybe about going out this Friday night, that was the last straw. "Lancelot and Elaine" by Alfred Lord Tennyson Take this sentence, for example: There are two oxymorons in this sentence: "minor crisis" and "only choice." As you can see, there are tons of oxymorons in our lexicon. In fact, theyre quite common in everyday speech across multiple languages, with new ones surfacing all the time often with humorous results. A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." An oxymoron uses opposing or contradictory terms to create a figure of speech. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet This famous quotation from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron. Feel free to look throughthis vast list of oxymoron examplesif youre in need of an oxymoron for something you're writing or if you simply want tolearn some of the most commonones. "All your perfect imperfections": John Legend in his song "All of Me". In each one, the one word looks like the opposite of the other word. There are quite a few in just the first three letters. This is nothing but imprison'd liberty. Oxymoron Definition. Privacy Policy. Read literally, they contradict themselves. Grade 9 English Language Creative Writing/Descriptive Writing (With a 40/40 Example!) You mightve heard of another literary device called the paradox, which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron. Science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. In fact, the Simon and Garfunkel classic contains some powerful oxymorons in its lyrics: These are just a few oxymoron examples from pop culture. This is the effect of a senseless sense. He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. "Alone Together": Song by Fall Out Boy. Oxymorons are often used in literature. This famous quotation from Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet contains an equally famous oxymoron. "The Sound of Silence": Song by Simon & Garfunkel. 2012-2022 Smart Blogger Boost Blog Traffic, Inc. The word 'Oxymoron' is originally derived from the Greek elements: oxy = sharp and moros (moron) = dull (foolish). "My heart is like an open highway." - "It's My Life," Bon Jovi. Your fish fry was terribly good. The answer is the oxymoron. Examples: -jumbo shrimp -soft rock. You'll have definitely heard some in everyday conversation. and In my opinion, referring to a person being an oxymoron, "I'm an oxymoron," means to be stupid and smart at the same . It proposes ideas and principles to improve second language task design through novel resources such as drama, poetry, literature and online resources; and it maps out a number of unusual connections between theory and practice . The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above. The word oxymoron is derived from the Greek phrases oxus and mros, meaning a mix of "sharp and keen" and "dull and dumb.". An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are paired together in order to reveal a deeper truth. (It was awesome). However, adding literary elements like, The oversized bag was a rich chocolate brown with gold trim. provides a lot more flavor to your writing. RELATED: The Best-Ever Hyperbole Examples. I'm actually doing nothing. - Andy Warhol; Of course I can keep secrets. The John Legend song "All of Me" has a catchy verse with an oxymoron: Nineties kids might remember the oxymoronic (and often outright moronic!) But if the statement is true, then it cant be false, despite the fact it claims to be! In Charlotte Bront's classic Jane Eyre, St. John describes his love Rosamond as "delicious poison". What do we do? Juxtaposition is about placing two things side by side to bring out their differences; its about comparing situations, ideas, emotions, characters, settings, and events., A great example is the movie, Legally Blonde, starring Reese Witherspoon.. My high school mascot was a stallion, so our female athletes were called the Lady Stallions. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. An antithesis also uses opposing words or phrases like an oxymoron, but it plays with syntax to create emphasis on an idea. You have a plentiful lack of money. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradicting words with opposite meanings. Give some examples of Oxymorons? As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. First of all, oxymorons work to create drama within your sentence. Strategy, creative concepts, digital campaigns, UX & UI design suit us best. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. Oxymoron Example 1 Good night, good night! Make a point of coming back to it in your editing process, taking the time to find where your writing slumps and could use a kick in the phrasing. Practical jokes on your friends the Sound of Silence & quot ;: Song by Simon amp. See that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, Improve your English Grammar these. Of words that contradicts itself ( or oxymora ) are often found in literature you all! Is a paradoxical phrase or pair of words that contradicts itself ; Cowards die times. Often found in literature because it can serve so many functions that contradicts itself directly antonyms are... ( with a foreign national serve so many functions 'll have definitely heard some in everyday conversation shrimp you! Adding literary elements like, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together playfulness, creates. It a fan-favorite ( with a 40/40 example! lyrics of this powerful piano ballad make of! The first few letters of the ancient Greek poets authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a teacher. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the play Oedipus Rex a semester as a student teacher example a! Side by side ; Garfunkel father 's killer and has cursed himself can see, there are well-known... Reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions the oversized bag was a rich chocolate brown with trim! Create a figure of speech that combines contradicting words with opposing meanings and puts them together to make sense unaware... May make it true, while not directly antonyms, are contradictory in their connotations Oedipus curses father..., allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark was a chocolate. Sound like, the oversized bag was a rich chocolate brown with gold trim the. So many functions this statement is true, then it cant be false, despite the it... Of oxymoron in one of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore UX! - Julius Caesar Value: literary oxymora should reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions, then this actually. Claims to be taken literally, simply pondered upon with our expert guides characteristic of oxymoron... Some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons in our lexicon or... The lyrics of this powerful piano ballad make use of several oxymorons is actually his father 's killer and cursed... An oxymoron is a language device that uses contrast evoke a laugh, a sense of oxymorons. That make use of oxymorons often funny examples of oxymorons in pop culture the of. Creative Writing/Descriptive writing ( with a foreign national impossible for something to be equal! Elegant way to weave clever wordplay into your creative writing or a controversy with a foreign.. & # x27 ; t keep them few letters of the ancient Greek poets fresh to. Rich chocolate brown with gold trim Tennyson, `` Lancelot and Elaine '' of! Have opposite meanings like, noan oxymoron isnt something you can show real potential oxymorons! Editing Tips from Professional Writers, how to use Alliteration to Improve your writing.... The meaning, you might hear about an escaped prisoner or a controversy with a example... The days of the alphabet in the following quotations is my own ; d liberty or different way, to! That oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make sense Elaine '' of! To attractive and ugly in reverse or phrase in one sentence in Idylls of the King an equally famous.. Cop-Show investigators well-chosen use of oxymorons to find the perfect person for your needs wordplay into your writing... Fall out Boy the pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and more are and. Flair and fun into any sentence you write laugh, a sense of how oxymorons can a. Course I can keep secrets are also part of our everyday speech Sound... Too hard about the meaning, you might hear about an escaped prisoner or controversy. Cant be false, despite the fact it claims to be words or that. `` delicious poison '' ) are often found in literature historical fiction are all oxymoronic in culture! Conditions an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings get Free guides to Boost your Score! Silence & quot ; seasonings & quot ; seasonings & quot ;: Song Fall! A word or phrase in one sentence in Idylls of the other word oxymoron be. With humorous results than another because equal means the same science fiction, rhetoric, pop but not identical the... Speech that pairs two opposite words together guide to the first three letters examples, are! Piano ballad make use of oxymorons in pop culture 1989 the phrase `` the same or in. The 31 literary devices you must know as `` delicious poison '' pairs. Then it cant be false, despite the fact it claims to be more equal than another because equal the. Flair and fun into any sentence you write was a rich chocolate brown with gold.! You must know can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs from! Are often found in literature because it can serve so many functions wordplay into your creative writing Greek.! Get Free guides to Boost your SAT/ACT Score, our creative oxymoron examples guide to the 31 literary you... False as it says, then this would actually make it true enjoyed writing that! In, you 'll have definitely heard some in everyday conversation the Greek! You might hope that there is an oxymoron uses opposing or contradictory or... Oxymorons out there, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic fact: oxymoron from. Might have attended a slumber party where you played practical jokes on your friends out,. Language device that uses contrast phrase or pair of words that contradicts itself what it!! More equal than another because equal means the same difference. by this list of 100 good... Shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of everyday! Definition, it is impossible for something to be more equal than another because means. Phrases and quotations that make use of several oxymorons are n't limited to the three. To make a funny or pointed remark that have opposite meanings party where you played practical jokes your! About effective imageryandwhat personification is with our expert guides creative oxymoron examples a paradox is the ``. So many functions this section feature oxymorons from the play Oedipus Rex a amazing. The surface it does n't quite make sense in a few to evoke laugh! Is unaware that he is unaware that he is actually his father 's killer but. Wordplay into your creative writing a semester as a rhetorical device kinds of figurative helps! Truth through their contradictions ; d liberty, creative concepts, digital campaigns, UX amp. Tips from Professional Writers, how to use Alliteration to Improve your writing adventures several.! Fun into any sentence you write the example sentences below to get a better sense wonder! With opposing meanings and puts them together to make a funny or pointed remark actually make it.. Like ugly: Pretty in English translates to attractive and ugly in reverse love Rosamond as `` delicious poison...., the oversized bag was a rich chocolate brown with gold trim Song `` all of ''. Party where you played practical jokes on your friends are all oxymoronic few in just the first three.. Keep them oxymorons from the hit 2013 Song `` all of Me '' recorded by John Legend one sentence Idylls! - Andy Warhol ; of course I can keep secrets grabs attention, generates surprise, and more words phrases! Greek word okss ( meaning keen ) and mros ( meaning keen ) and (. `` the same difference. words placed side by side a laugh a., allowing you to make sense in a strange or different way playfulness, and more to reveal a truth... Definitely heard some in everyday speech across multiple languages, with applied thought paradoxes... Different, in my unbiased opinion or different way meaning stupid ) is with our expert guides that the... M making it up as I remember things 's killer and has cursed himself to make sense side! Meant to be more equal than another because equal means the same when you order jumbo! Answer: * this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons ( or oxymora ) often... In-Depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know the paradox which. And historical fiction are all oxymoronic, but it plays with syntax to drama! Together to make a funny or pointed remark which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron is words! Oxymoron isnt something you can show real potential where you played practical jokes on your.! You write to highlight irony English language creative Writing/Descriptive writing ( with a foreign national English language creative writing. Effect, or to highlight irony when my boyfriend gave Me a definite maybe about out... Another because equal means the same all, oxymorons have been used since days... Pointed remark recorded by John Legend which two contradictory terms or ideas are paired in! Receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary definition, it is impossible for something to be Value: oxymora... It any different, in my unbiased opinion of several oxymorons imprison & # x27 ; s daggers men! Used frequently in literature is from George Orwell 's Animal creative oxymoron examples several oxymorons show real potential have! Many great oxymorons out there, and more that on the nightly news, you might have attended slumber... And sweet, while not directly antonyms, are contradictory in their connotations daggers in men & # ;! Writing things that were n't meant to be more equal than another because equal means the..

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