oxymoron

Noun

Meaning

A figure in which an epithet of a contrary signification is added to a word; e. g., cruel kindness; laborious idleness.

Source: Webster's dictionary

Synonyms

enigma simile contrast conflict comparison paradox imagery ambiguity breach contradiction metaphor puzzle apostrophe discrepancy anomaly
Show all synonyms

Antonyms

pleonasm same standard success understanding accuracy
Show all antonyms

Hypernyms

image figure trope figure of speech

Related terms

paradox sophomore oxalic moron paroxysm oxy-

Derivatives

oxymora

Examples

Another example is the term "civil war", which is not an oxymoron, but can be claimed to be so for humorous effect, if "civil" is construed as meaning "polite" rather than "between citizens of the same state". Source: Internet

A “premium” Chromebook used to be an oxymoron, but thanks to the Pixelbook that’s no longer true. Source: Internet

If elected she will have no seniority and will have to do the bidding of the Democratic (an oxymoron) leadership. Source: Internet

AV on Kali is an oxymoron! Source: Internet

And that’s pretty much how Buckley uses the word in Miles Gone By: A Literary Biography (2004), when he refers to “martial Quakerism” as an oxymoron. Source: Internet

An oxymoron is a combination of contradictory words. Source: Internet

Close letter words and terms

oxymetry oxymonad oxymora oxymoronic oxymoronically oxymoronicity