You might use an oxymoron to highlight irony, but irony isn't specifically related to a combination of words. A paradox is when two contrasting ideas are put together for the purposes of creating a comparison. Note: All bold emphasis in the following quotations is my own. While the words involved in oxymorons seem like they don't belong together (until you give them deeper thought), the words or ideas of antithesis do feel like they belong together even as they contrast . In speech, oxymorons can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm. With the first oxymoron,"perfect imperfections," the speaker is making it clear that his lovers flaws are ultimately what make her the perfect partner for him. Oxymorons are an excellent, thought-provoking tool to use in writing, but they're certainly not the only device you should work with. It's likely you've used, or at least heard, a few oxymorons in your everyday life, even if you didn't realize it at the time. What Are Some Examples of Oxymorons in Pop Culture? Improve your self-confidence and self-worth. However, its important that writers dont overuse oxymoron as a literary device. Oxymoron is also a literary device, but is considered a condensed paradox. We see that two things that shouldn't exist together do, in fact . The first criteria we should look for in this partner is someone who is ultimately a good friend to us, meaning that they are kind, positive, loving, and supportive. Awfully good, bittersweet, same difference, and original copy are a few oxymoron examples. Social distance may spur feelings of sexual nostalgia for previous partners. Oxymoron is a figure of speech pairing two words together that are opposing and/or contradictory. Together, oxymoros meant "pointedly foolish". When used well, your, Oxymorons are a great way to evoke emotion, reveal a, As great a list as this might be, just reading this post and moving on wont make, Make a point of coming back to it in your editing process, taking the time to find where your. Oxymoron A joining of two seemingly contradictory terms. School Memberships, 2023 OwlEyes.org, Inc. All Rights Reserved. One example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist anything, except temptation.". We'll also take a look at many fun and often funny examples of oxymorons. Classic examples of oxymorons include "jumbo shrimp" and "dull roar" - new descriptions formed by opposite words. But pairing it with deafening gives silence a very distinct meaning, comparing it to a loud noise that draws extra attention. Friends can also: Increase your sense of belonging and purpose. Have you ever played on an Oculus Rift? Consider these oxymoron examples: I am a deeply superficial person. Andy Warhol, I distinctly remember forgetting that. Clara Barton. Well provide oxymoron examples and provide guidance on how theyre used, but first, lets look at a more thorough oxymoron definition. You might eat vegan bacon and fresh frozen fruit when you take a working vacation. Time and distance do nothing to diminish the bond we have in the deepest kinds of friendship. Too many uses of oxymoron can be either distracting or tedious for the reader. Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. Friendship makes life more enjoyable and enriches one's everyday experiences. In contrast, an oxymoron is a description thats enjoyed in the moment and then forgotten as the reader or listener moves on. Oedipus curses his father's killer, but he is unaware that he is actually his father's killer and has cursed himself. Oxymoron Quotes. Boost your happiness and reduce your stress. If we put them together, we get the very strange concept: sharply dull. Jack London, The Call of the Wild, All the pain he had endured was as nothing compared with the exquisite agony of this., The bookful blockhead, ignorantly read, Oxymorons are often used in everyday conversation and ina breadth of writing, such as literature, poetry, and songwriting. By that measure, no crisis is unimportant or minor. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. One example of a skillful oxymoron isreal fake. Not everyone realizes how powerful words can be. When my boyfriend gave me a definite maybe about going out this Friday night, that was the last straw. New research suggests that marrying late can be a good thing for many people. Afterward, he writes an entire book, just to memorialize his friend and tell their story. Oxymoron examples in pop culture. For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny oxymoron quotes. The first criteria one should look for in a partner is someone who is ultimately agood friend to them. William Shakespeare uses antithesis in this quote from Hamlet: "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice; take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgment.". So, where do we find friends? He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally, simply pondered upon. Retributive and restorative justice in relationships. This combination of contrary or antithetical words is also known in conversation as a contradiction in terms. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, "Lancelot and Elaine" inIdylls of the King. The oxymoronic phrase delicious torment exemplifies the conundrum of friendship. You don't have to make yourself into what you think others would find attractive. Two things that can greatly improve our lives are engaging in the here and now and seeing life as play rather than work. There are plenty more to be discovered! Need more help with this topic? In the below example, perhaps I could have said "aristocrats" or "high born", which both convey an identical meaning without being clichd. What is an oxymoron? A crisis is defined as a time of serious difficulty or importance. Each line uses parallel structure and contrasting ideas. As shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, oxymorons are also part of our everyday speech. Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons. Your writing will connect with your readers emotions, youll keep their attention all the way through, and theyll come to the end wishing there was more. Bringing them together into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect. It plays with readers' expectations to demonstrate themes or build tension. When Youre Most Likely to Long for Sex With Your Ex, 2 Ways Empathy Determines the Type of Partner We Choose, To Be Happy for the Rest of Your Life, Seek These Goals, 6 Surprising Ways to Change Habits and Transform Your Life, If You Think You Have ADHD, Ask Yourself These 5 Questions. An oxymoron is a literary device that juxtaposes contradictory terms. Yet, original copy as an oxymoron commonly and figuratively means that the content of the copy is original. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? This presents the word. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Oxymoron - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com , oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing, all of which are quite useful in the right situation: Oxymorons tend to have deeper meanings and be more memorable than noncontradictory words, so they work great at key points in your writing for boosting reader engagement. Oxymoron can enhance drama in writing. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Because of this, an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in terms. Today, we are taking a deep dive into the definition of this literary device. How many do you? I must refuse it in order to be worthy to receive it. Despite the "terrible" things that happened and the many lives lost, Yeats uses the term "beauty" to bring attention to the positive ideals of independence that gained ground as a result of this event:thisdesire for self-government is what spurred the Irish War of Independence just a few years later. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism, enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. An antithesis also uses opposing words or phrases like an oxymoron, but it plays with syntax to create emphasis on an idea. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis. Deafening silence is way overdone. Why use phrases that don't seem to make logical sense? And if youre putting your time and energy into someone who isnt enriching your life and giving you the support you need, it may be time to reevaluate that friendship. This is a pairing of opposing words that contradict each other. The scope of a paradox can go much deeper, drawing on complicated themes and philosophical concepts. Leverage the Internet to find people of like mind. Therefore, Salinger cleverly calls into question Holdens reliability as a narrator through just this figure of speech. On its own silence is fairly neutralit can be calm or tense, depending on the context. Also, they often lead the reader to an underlying truth. The oxymoronic phrase "delicious torment" exemplifies the conundrum of friendship. As long as you remain dependent on others for approval, happiness is fleeting. It illustrates his dilemma in the story. The John Legend song "All of Me" has a catchy verse with an oxymoron: Nineties kids might remember the oxymoronic (and often outright moronic!) Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. Oxymoron: A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined. An example of dramatic irony comes from the play Oedipus Rex. Sometimes they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder. (see what we did there? We just hope you were never an uninvited guest! 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. One thing that we can control is who our friends are, and this decision can either make our lives so much richer and beautiful, or more stressful and disappointing. Oxymorons Poems - Modern Award-winning Oxymorons Poetry : All Poetry Friends prevent isolation and loneliness and give you a chance to offer needed companionship, too. The word oxymoron is derived from a late-Greek word. Well also provide you with an extensive list of oxymoronsso you can get a better feel for what oxymorons look and sound like. An oxymoron is also a noun that's defined as "a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in 'cruel kindness' or 'to make haste slowly.'" So when contradictory or opposing words are combined, that expression is an oxymoron. He gave me a. "What is an Oxymoron?": A Literary Guide for English Students and First, they make life more enjoyable. All Rights Reserved. Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone. The conservative political writer William Buckley, for instance, became famous for quotes like, "An intelligent liberal is an oxymoron.". 2012-2023 Smart Blogger Boost Blog Traffic, Inc. As rhetorical devices, oxymorons have been used in many different mediums from political speeches to novels to stage plays. Add a great title, like an oxymoron that represents the poetry of the lyrics, and you have a song thats a beloved classic for years to come. The politician gave his deceptively honest opinion. Or a friend from grammar school with whom we haven't talked in decades. Oscar Wilde. Many oxymorons have become part of our daily language to the point where they now make sense and seem normal. We make the relationship a priority no matter what coast each other is on. An elderly woman might talk about her adult children who live in a mobile home. The scope of oxymorons, however, is limited only to the scope of the individual words used. ThoughtCo, Feb. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/awfully-good-examples-of-oxymorons-1691814. Guilt is a feeling that you've done (or thought) something wrong and a need to improve things. Alex Lickerman, M.D., is a general internist and former Director of Primary Care at the University of Chicago and has been a practicing Buddhist since 1989. An oxymoron is a common rhetorical device that combines two or more words with contradictory meanings into a single phrase. According to the Oxford Learner's Dictionary, oxymoron is defined as "a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other.". PostedJuly 26, 2021 What is an Oxymoron? Easy Definition, With Examples from Literature Now that we know the definition of oxymoron, let's take a look at some examples. Hollywood hits Night of the Living Dead, True Lies, and Definitely, Maybe are all examples of oxymoron. But she doesnt look at all like the typical law student with her pink clothes, her Chihuahua, Bruiser, who goes with her everywhere in her tote bag, and her bright orange MacBook standing out against all the gray and silver laptops in the classroom. Oxymoron - Examples and Definition of Oxymoron - Literary Devices Time and distance do nothing to diminish the bond we have with these kinds of friends. Get the help you need from a therapist near youa FREE service from Psychology Today. 6 Benefits of Friendship and How to Get Them 6 Ways Friendship Is Good for Your Health Reduced loneliness Less stress Emotional support Personal growth Sense of belonging Resilience Making. Nordquist, Richard. up next, we take a look at oxymoron examples in sentences from literature and pop culture. Definition and Examples. A grammar checker, style editor, and writing mentor in one package. Before meeting Kevin, Max never would have written anything voluntarily. This phrase demonstrates the various emotions one feels within a friendship: on one hand, it is pleasant and desirable; on the other, it creates a sense of agony and torture. . Oxymorons are often used in literature. There is a book by Kirker Butler called Pretty Ugly. An oxymoron is a paradoxical phrase or pair of words that contradicts itself. Learn all about effective imageryandwhat personification is with our expert guides. That I shall say good night till it be morrow. Instead, meaning should be derived from the context in which an oxymoron is used. True friendship is not measured in days or decades. The True Meaning of Friendship | Psychology Today Oxymorons are one of the seasonings in great writing. If you find yourself in the market for friends (who isnt?)

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