noun
oxymoron
ok-sih-MAW-ron
noun
1
A figure of speech that pairs two contradictory words for effect, such as "deafening silence."
""Jumbo shrimp" is a classic oxymoron."
"Calling the meeting "a small crisis" felt like an oxymoron."
2
More loosely, any statement that seems to contradict itself.
"Some critics called "civil war" an oxymoron given how uncivil it was."
How to Use Oxymoron
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA phrase that puts two opposite ideas together on purpose, often for a striking or witty effect.
Common pairings
classic oxymoron
unintentional oxymoron
Word Forms
oxymorons plural, oxymora plural
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"Jumbo shrimp" is a classic _____.
Etymology
From Greek roots meaning "sharp" and "dull/foolish" — the word describing contradictions is itself a small contradiction.