That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few. The use of oxymorons helps you demonstrate your linguistic skills. Juxtaposition is designed to compare or contrast, while oxymorons are a type of word play that either create a new phrase or emphasize a point using two elements. Although they have the same purpose in mind, they are used differently in terms of sentence structure and presentation. In this poem, Auden utilizes the oxymoron juicy bone. Of course, a bone is generally considered dry and the opposite of juicy. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined. Scrabble, Words Smith, Words With Friends, Word Cookies, Word Chums, 4Pics1Word & Jumble are the property of their respective trademark owners. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. 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." Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to make a funny or pointed remark. Therefore, oxymorons are not necessarily mistakes or errors. Figure of Speech: Definition and Examples, Brief Introductions to Common Figures of Speech, Figures of Speech: The Apostrophe as a Literary Device, Definition and Examples of Dialectic in Rhetoric, Definition and Examples of Irony (Figure of Speech). Oxymoron is a Words with Friends word. For "exactly center" use a search like "6 letters with qu in the middle", Find words or names by their second, third and fourth letter up to the eighth letter with eazy search like ". They can enhance writing and communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect. In order to get an accurate frequency count of each word, we utilize a stemmer to identify the morphological root form of a word. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. Indicates irony and creates humor in a work. 2001 - 2023 Oxymoron.info - All rights reserved. For example, 'cats' and 'cat' both have the same stem, as do 'readability' and 'readable.' . The audience was a failure. 12 Basic Tenses 2023 ALLSCRABBLEWORDS.com. Starts with o, ends with n, five consonants, three vowels and four syllables. [+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples oxymoronic We're working on expanding this feature. All rights reserved. 100 Examples of Oxymorons . Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. JOIN - Add Link - Add School - Add Post Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. Some typical oxymorons are: a living death. The following lines refer to Lancelot, who is in love with Guinevere, King Arthur's wife. 100 Awfully Good Examples of Oxymorons. Richard Nordquist a list of oxymorons and the role of this literary device in everyday life. Today, many people use the term "oxymoron" as a synonym for any expression whose components contradict one another, even contradictions that are unintentional or come up in casual conversation (also called a "contradiction in terms"). The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an, I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. 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. 'Oxymoron' is the singular form, and 'Oxymora' (or 'Oxymorons') is the plural form. starts with a vowel and ends in a consonant, 8 letters, 5 consonants, 3 vowels, 4 syllables, unclearness by virtue of having more than one meaning, a contradiction between two statements that seem equally reasonable, a flat plate that controls or directs the flow of fluid or energy, conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence''), a predetermined set of movements in dancing or skating, a representation of a person (especially in the form of sculpture), language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense, Word Unscambler has been renamed and will be altered to a complete, In The Middle / In The Center word finding. Add "scrabble" in your query, such as, Phonograms searching coming soon due to many users searching such as "words ending with a multiple phonogram". Some Oxymorons are not obvious, some may require an understanding of verbal or regional interpretations, and some may even indicate certain prejudices. This would provide a list of words with letters in a specific order, such as the consonants in the order of ntr. Oxymoron Pronunciation: ahk-si-mo-ronMeaning: A figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory words-ostensibly semantic opposites-are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means, e.g. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list above. Word lists are in the order of the most common words and most searched. How to use oxymoron in a sentence. The word oxymoron is an oxymoron; 'oxy' comes from the Greek word that means 'sharp', while 'moron' comes from the Greek word that means 'dull'. 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. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a master of symbolism. Grammar Quizzes Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet) rather than to a contradictory person. An oxymoronis a figure of speech, usually one or two words, in which seemingly contradictory terms appear side by side. A paradox is a logical puzzle that seems to contradict itself. One of the most famous examples of the use of oxymorons is the following speech by Romeo from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet: Oxymorons are similar to such other devices as paradox and antithesis and are often used in poetry and other literature. There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. If something is original,then it is not a copy. Oxymoron. pronounced: ox-ee-MOR-on | plural: oxymora, oxymorons. Im the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. What distinguishes oxymorons from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as the aforementioned "a long brief" or "hot ice". They can be spaced out, as in, "His honor rooted in dishonor stood," which is a line from Tennyson's "Lancelot and Elaine. Find scrabble words by points! Shakespeare was a master of using oxymoron in his plays and poems. Teachers and parents! Here are some examples of oxymoron phrases in well-known literary works, along with how they add to interpretation: Good night, good night! Oxymorons also feature in modern comedy and politics. Remember, not all synonyms are suitable replacements in all contexts. Use of any trademarks on You Go Words is for informational purposes only and citing sources of information where appropriate. Like a paradox, an oxymoron is what's known as a "contradiction in terms," although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. Part of Speech: Noun. The oxymoron is a figure of speech that adds depth and technique to literary works. In the poem, Lancelot is tempted by another woman, but he remains "true" to Guinevere. Oxymoron Quotes. Word Analyzer: Oxymoron. Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow." William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. The word "oxymoron" is itself an oxymoron. paradox / oxymoron. Words with Friends is a trademark of Zynga. Here's a good one: Literary Devices | Literary Terms. The Word Analyzer provides meta information about a given word, such audience familiarity, to get you insight into how use of the word may affect readability metrics. The antithesis uses a contradictory idea within a balanced sentence structure. There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." As a literary device, oxymoron has the effect of creating an impression, enhancing a concept, and even entertaining the reader. Once we are able to recognize . EnglishClub Home 4 Answers. It presents one thing as another completely different thing so as to draw a powerful comparison of images. Part of Speech: Noun. Instead, it takes linguistic skill in knowing which words, though opposing, will work together to have an effect on the reader. Searching "two syllable words with qu in the middle", "ab in the center",etc. Be sure to consider context, and connotation in addition to readability when choosing an alternatitive word. In this poem, Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment to describe the feelings and connections between sadness and joy. I have passed with a nod of the head. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Check out the oxymoron definition. Get a quick-reference PDF with concise definitions of all 136 Lit Terms we cover. Popular @ EnglishClub: oxymoron. "Parting is such sweet sorrow ." The combination of these contradicting elements serves to reveal a paradox, confuse, or give the reader a laugh. If you're learning English as a second language, you might be confused by these figures of speech. These figures of speech can enhance a readers understanding of a concept, interpretation of a phrase, or enjoyment of language. In some rare cases, however, a common word may have multiple meanings including a meaning so infrequent it is not well known. Banksy, Wall and Piece. Similarly, "choice" implies more than one option, which is contradicted by "only," which implies the opposite. Science fiction, magical realism, and historical fiction are all oxymoronic. marekuliasz / iStock / Getty Images Plus. What Is the Figure of Speech Antiphrasis? pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function. Learn a new word every day. Nordquist, Richard. An oxymoron is a figure of speech words that seem to cancel each other out, like "working vacation" or "instant classic." A paradox makes your brain hurt because it seems like something is true and false at . Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. This oxymoron is symbolic of the human condition as reflected in the poets mention of our human lot. In addition, this oxymoron supports and complements the balance of oppositions featured in the rest of the poems structure, such as good and bad, without or with, and friends or foes. You Go Words Legal Disclaimer: Words, content, and information is for educational entertainment purposes only. Copyright 2023 Literary Devices. An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeares line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! 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. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used in sentences and dialogue. Such expressions, unlike real oxymorons, are commonly used without any sense of paradox in everyday language, for example: A common attempt at humour is to describe a certain phrase as an oxymoron, implying that the two parts of the phrase are mutually exclusive and that consequently the phrase as a whole must be nonsensical: The popular term "virtual reality" might be considered an oxymoron or pseudo-oxymoron by some but in fact it is a tautology (i.e. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. The following example is from Alexander Pope's poem, "Essay on Criticism": The bookful blockhead ignorantly read, With loads of learned lumber in his head, With his own tongue still edifies his ears, And always listning to himself appears. Grammatical function oxymoron '' is itself an oxymoron is symbolic of the head the opposite of.. In addition to readability when choosing an alternatitive word Lord Byron uses the oxymoron melancholy merriment describe... 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