Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. Oxymorons are a favorite literary device of poets, particularly when they express complex feelings such as love and desire. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. An oxymoron is a phrase made of two or more words that actually have opposite meanings. My Blog the word nascar is an oxymoron Here are some of the more famous oxymoron examples from historical literature: All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this. 6 Critically Acclaimed Female Authors You Should Read Before You Die, These Favorite Childrens Book Quotes Will Take You Back In Time, Survival Books Fiction: 5 Fascinating Tales to Read in 2021, Must Read Fiction Books: 5 Essential Literature Classics, Non Fiction War Books: 5 Essential True Stories About War and Peace, Fiction Books for 2nd Graders: 5 Essentials to Add to your Shelves. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. Oxymoron is sometimes used to describe a word combination that strikes the listener as humorously contradictory, even if the speaker didn't intend it that way. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts two words next to each other with very different meanings that end up making sense in a strange way. The most commonly-used example of an oxymoron is 'jumbo shrimp,' as a shrimp is small by definition and therefore cannot be jumbo. In cuisine, it describes things like dark chocolate, which is thought of as sweet but in reality contains little sugar, so has a sharper taste than regular chocolate. Usually, oxymorons are made up of just two words, but paradoxes are complete sentences, sometimes entire paragraphs. They are "word searches" and matching puzzles. An Oxymoron is two words, or a compound word, with contradictory definitions. 1828 Words at Play Internal Conflict: The One-Word Oxymoron When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. Their dramatic effect is much more powerful with sparing use. As a rhetorical device, an oxymoron illustrates a point to communicate and reveal a paradox. Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come. Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. The suggestion is that after a year into high school or college, a sophomore might think they know everything there is to know, but really has a long way to go. Next, read up on what an aphorism is and how its used. Write with Grammarly. The adjective sophomoric has two meanings that bring a somewhat negative connotation to sophomores: conceited and overconfident of knowledge but poorly informed and immature (as in a sophomoric argument) or lacking in maturity, taste, or judgment (as in sophomoric humor). And then an interesting thing happens with superette. Your writing, at its best As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Katie McCabe, TimeOut London, 20 Apr. O loving hate!"). The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective followed by a noun with contrasting meanings. According to Dictionary, the word oxymoron has been used since the 17th century and comes from the New Latin and Late Latin oxymorum, which stems from the presumed Greek oxmron and Greek oxumron which is the neuter of oxmros/oxumros and equivalent to ox, then added to the suffix mrs. Also, mastering the oxymoron is an elegant way to weave clever wordplay into your creative writing.. An oxymoron can be a word or phrase in one of these formats: . $8.95. However, as there are so many, you might not catch them all. Consider these oxymoron examples: I am a deeply superficial person. Andy Warhol, I distinctly remember forgetting that. Clara Barton. Lederer (1990), in the spirit of "recreational linguistics", goes as far as to construct "logological oxymorons"[jargon] such as reading the word nook composed of "no" and "ok" or the surname Noyes as composed of "no" plus "yes", or far-fetched punning such as "divorce court", "U.S. Army Intelligence" or "press release". [3], The term oxymoron is first recorded as Latinized Greek oxymrum, in Maurus Servius Honoratus (c. AD 400);[4] it is derived from the Greek word okss "sharp, keen, pointed"[5] and mros "dull, stupid, foolish";[6] as it were, "sharp-dull", "keenly stupid", or "pointedly foolish". The Greek expression "to oxymoron" refers, literally, to the "acutely mad". The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. mars 15, 2021 . Grammarly stands with our friends, colleagues, and family in Ukraine, and with all people of Ukraine. So how did we arrive at spendthrift for a word for someone who spends money wastefully? The humour derives from implying that an assumption (which might otherwise be expected to be controversial or at least non-evident) is so obvious as to be part of the lexicon. Check out the oxymoron definition. However, you may come across many such examples that need verbal interpretations and deep understanding. Late Greek oxymron, from neuter of oxymros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mros foolish. Superette might not strike you as the most obvious oxymoron. oxymoron, a word or group of words that is self-contradicting, as in bittersweet or plastic glass. Theme music by Joshua Stamper 2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP. For nearly 40 years . Exactly! tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word. There are many examples of oxymorons in the English language such as "jumbo shrimp," "hot ice," and "civil war." Oxymoron is a word that literally means "contradictory terms." He gave me a. All babies can be childish but, for some reason, adding the word 'big' communicates that the person you are talking about is even more childish than a regular-sized . They add flavour to speech and can also be cynical, sarcastic, or witty and used for comic effect or relief. josh brener commercial. In a more extended sense, the term "oxymoron" has also been applied to inadvertent or incidental contradictions, as in the case of "dead metaphors" ("barely clothed" or "terribly good"). Supermarket was coined by adding the prefix super- (higher in quantity, quality, or degree) to the noun market for a large store that carried a vast assortment of groceries and other household goods. "A figure of speech in which a pair of opposed or markedly contradictory terms are placed in conjunction for emphasis", "closely related to hysteron proteron, it shouldn't be, "Hosted for 33 years by the conservative intellectual William F. Buckley Jr., the show [. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original. Mom, and True Lies.. The violent display ultimately led to thousands of deaths and injuries. This list is in no way comprehensive, and just aims at giving you an idea as to what oxymora are. Consider the oxymoron example deafening silence. Reading these words together will often cause a reader to pause and think about what the writer is trying to convey. Oxymorons are often used poetically as a way of bringing out a fresh meaning in a word or phrase. 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. This is especially achieved if the word pairing reveals intensity or a great difference in quality. Learn a new word every day. 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. One classic example of the use of oxymorons in English literature can be found in this example from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, where Romeo strings together thirteen in a row: O brawling love! ", Oxymorons have been used since the days of the ancient Greek poets. Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and ina breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting. 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. [22], Similarly, the term "civil war" is sometimes jokingly referred to as an "oxymoron" (punning on the lexical meanings of the word "civil"). Delivered to your inbox! But pairing it with deafening gives silence a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. He was very warmly thanked both by mother and daughter; to escape a little from the latter, he went to the pianoforte, and begged Miss Fairfax, who was still sitting at it, to play something more. Paired together, however, they create a deeper meaning. A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still truefor example, "less is more." Is oxymoronic a word? It was featured notably by Leonardo da Vinci in such works as The Adoration of the Magi (ca. Now that weve gone over what an oxymoron is, lets take a closer look at four famous oxymoron examples in sentences to better understand how this literary device actually works. "damn with faint praise" (Pope),[15] "Saturday Night Live transcripts." - Contact Us - Privacy Policy - Terms and Conditions, Definition and Examples of Literary Terms, Little Bighorn Battlefield (national monument in Montana), CatDog (American animated television series), 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), You cant have more types of fake news than real news. (Elon Musk), Im nobody! Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, Of melancholy merriment, to quote. For example, just pairing any two words that are contradictory wont make for an effective oxymoron. Crustacean. Despite the similarities, however, oxymorons and paradoxes are two different types of literary devices, each with their own special usage. Consider the sonnet. That noun combines sophos, the Greek adjective meaning wise, with its intellectual opposite mros, meaning foolish.. (see what we did there? ThoughtCo. Oxymorons can be clearly confusing (see what we did there? "[21], Examples popularized by comedian George Carlin in 1975 include "military intelligence" (a play on the lexical meanings of the term "intelligence", implying that "military" inherently excludes the presence of "intelligence") and "business ethics" (similarly implying that the mutual exclusion of the two terms is evident or commonly understood rather than the partisan anti-corporate position). Heres a tip: Want to make sure your writing shines? where do you file a complaint against a hospital; failure to pay full time and attention va code; bones angela and hodgins in jail; mirabella svadobny salon dubnica nad vahom 1481-82). These figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language. O heavy lightness, serious vanity! Preparing totake the AP Literature test? Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. the word nascar is an oxymoron mars 15, 2021 by 0 Comments 0 View. A simpler meaning would be that, it is a set of consecutive words that express conflicting meanings. You have been successfully subscribed to the Grammarly blog. She feels sadness knowing she must say good night to Romeo. The dictionary defines an oxymoron as a "wittily paradoxical turn of phrase that appeals to 'unconscious responses' instead of rational examinations". An oxymoron is an opposition between a term and the qualification that is given it, or between two qualities attributed to a single term, or between the simultaneous denial and assertion of the same fact or concept. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. An oxymoron is a term for a figure of speech that is made up of two or more words that seem to be the opposite of each other or truly are opposite of each other. May they inspire you through all your writing adventures. The audience was a failure. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. and Oxymoron can enhance drama in writing. Oxymoron definition, a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in "cruel kindness" or "to make haste slowly." See more. Smiles are rarely associated with pain. How every letter can be (annoyingly) silent, Helping you navigate the linguistic road ahead. The word is said to be originated from the Greek words, oxy, meaning 'sharp, pointed . A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still truefor example, "less is more.". In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings, like old news, deafening silence, or organized chaos. Oxymorons may seem illogical at first, but in context they usually make sense. 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. 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. The word 'big' is added to emphasise the fact that someone is acting more childishly than you would expect. Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? Adding "jumbo" doesn't make the . What is an oxymoron? Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Quotes tagged as "oxymoron" Showing 1-30 of 30. Nordquist, Richard. The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points, How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer. 1, 'Cattywampus' and Other Funny-Sounding Words. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. The scope of oxymorons, however, is limited only to the scope of the individual words used. There are quite a few in just the first three letters. If you're referring to oxymoron in plural, both oxymorons and oxymora are correct. When a single word contains two conflicting ideas. Oxymoron can also serve as a means of elevated language when used to express a sense of irony. Learn a new word every day. It takes that remaining super- prefix from supermarket and then replaces market with the diminutive suffix -ette (as found in words like kitchenette or featurette). Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. ), so this article explains everything you need to know. We already gave an oxymoron definition above, so here lets talk about paradoxes. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. In this sense, theuprising was simultaneously terrible (in that it led to death) and beautiful (in its romantic aspirations for independence). However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. Theoxymorons here point toLancelot's contradictory existence in regard to his relationships with both Guinevere and King Arthur: Lancelot isa "faithful" and "honorable" lover to Guinevere yet also an "unfaithful" and "dishonorable" knight to King Arthur, Guineveres husband, whom he is essentially betraying by carrying out a love affair with the queen. If you're calling someone a "shrimp" meaning small or little, and then adding the adjective "jumbo," THEN it's an oxymoron. We hope you are enjoying Penlighten! Then check out our in-depth guide to the 31 literary devices you must know. Need more help with this topic? Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. 1. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. "100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons." Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. The word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron; in Greek, oxy- means "sharp" or "wise," while moros means "foolish." Is an oxymoron always 2 words? O loving hate!"). The distinction between the two is clear (now). We recommend our users to update the browser. Banksy, Wall and Piece. It might sound like a schoolyard insult, but it's not. Or plastic silverware. Through the phrase terrific liar, Holden is admitting that he is both a deceptive person and that hes extraordinarily great at being so. Here are some examples of oxymoron that may be found in everyday writing or conversation: Think you havent heard of any famous oxymorons? The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. Lets get this one out of the way. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase.
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