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  1. oxymoron

    noun

    1. A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.
    2. A figure in which an epithet of a contrary signification is added to a word; e. g., cruel kindness; laborious idleness.
    3. A figure of speech in which two words with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.

    noun

    1. A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.
    2. A figure in which an epithet of a contrary signification is added to a word; e. g., cruel kindness; laborious idleness.
    3. A figure of speech in which two words with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.
    4. A contradiction in terms.
    5. Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence').
    The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition • More at Wordnik
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  2. merriam-webster.com

    The meaning of OXYMORON is a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness); broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements. How to use oxymoron in a sentence. Frequently Asked Questions About oxymoron.
  3. thoughtco.com

    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 oxymorons (or oxymora) for centuries as a literary device to describe life's inherent conflicts and incongruities.
  4. litcharts.com

    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."
  5. grammarly.com

    The word oxymoron is an ancient Greek word, which translates most closely to something like "sharply dull" or "cleverly stupid." In other words, the oxymoron definition is itself an oxymoron. Oxymorons have been used for millennia. More than a few have even become commonplace expressions in modern-day English, such as these oxymoron ...
  6. Oct 8, 2024An oxymoron and a paradox are similar in that they combine contradictory or opposing elements but differ in length. An oxymoron consists of two words that contradict themselves to reveal a deeper meaning (e.g., open secret). This is an oxymoron because, in this context, "open" can be understood to mean "not secret," while "secret ...
  7. literarydevices.com

    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 ...

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    Oxymoron

    An oxymoron is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. A general meaning of "contradiction in terms" is recorded by the 1902 edition of the Oxford English Dictionary. The term oxymoron is first recorded as Latinized Greek oxymōrum, in Maurus Servius Honoratus; it is derived from the Greek word ὀξύς oksús "sharp, keen, pointed" and μωρός mōros "dull, stupid, foolish"; as it were, "sharp-dull", "keenly stupid", or "pointedly foolish". The word oxymoron is autological, i.e., it is itself an example of an oxymoron. The Greek compound word ὀξύμωρον oksýmōron, which would correspond to the Latin formation, does not seem to appear in any known Ancient Greek works prior to the formation of the Latin term. Wikipedia

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