oxymoron

Meanings

• figure of speech

  A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms, such as 'deafening silence' or 'bittersweet'.

  - "The battlefield was filled with the deafening silence of the aftermath."
  - "The experience of losing a loved one is described as bittersweet."
  - ""

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Pronunciation

1. 
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=75833587"
2. /ɑksɪˈmɔɹɑn/
   
   
   
   Source: "https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=874149"

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Antonyms

pleonasm , redundancy

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Rhymes

Words rhyming with oxymoron
moron , jon , don , gone , mone , bone , stone , throne

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Variants

List of all variants of oxymoron that leads to same result
oxymora , oxymoron , oxymoronic , oxymoronically , oxymorons

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Etymology

origin and the way in which meanings have changed throughout history.

From the Greek words ὀξύς (oxys, 'sharp') and μορον (moron, 'fool'). The term was coined by the ancient Greek rhetorician Aristotle to describe the paradoxical nature of certain expressions.

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Trivia

Any details, considerations, events or pieces of information regarding the word

1. The word 'oxymoron' is often mispronounced as 'oxi-moron', but the correct pronunciation is 'oks-i-moron'.

2. The term 'oxymoron' has been used in various fields, including mathematics and physics, to describe certain phenomena that seem to defy logic or common sense.

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Related Concepts

informations on related concepts or terms closely associated with the word. Discuss semantic fields or domains that the word belongs to

1. paradox: Oxymorons are a type of paradox, which is a statement that contradicts itself or appears to be contradictory. Other types of paradoxes include the liar paradox and Zeno's paradox.

2. irony: Oxymorons can also be considered a form of irony, as they contain a hidden or contradictory meaning that may not be immediately apparent.

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Quotes

Quotes by authors and personalities

1. He calls himself a "bleeding-heart conservative," and that "oxymoron" sums up the unique [Jack F.] Kemp role in the Bush Administration: the apostle of free enterprise who is the ambassador to the poor.

   - William Safire,{it}New York Times Magazine{/it},25 Mar. 1990

2. The phrase "Broadway rock musical" is an "oxymoron". Broadway doesn't have the nerve to let the really hard stuff in the house.

   - Mark Coleman,{it}Rolling Stone{/it},26 Dec. 1996/ 9 Jan. 1997

3. Taken to its logical conclusion, this emphasis on the fragmentation of the body politic makes postmodern feminism an "oxymoron": feminism and virtually all our laws against sex discrimination reflect the presumption that women do in fact constitute a political category.

   - Wendy Kaminer,{it}Atlantic{/it},October 1993

4. As the war went on, "precision bombing" became a comical "oxymoron" relished by bomber crews with a sense of black humor.

   - Paul Fussell,{it}Wartime{/it},1989

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Culture

Any cultural, historical, or symbolic significance of the word. Explore how the word has been used in literature, art, music, or other forms of expression.

In literature, oxymorons are often used to add depth and complexity to language, as well as to create vivid and memorable images. For example, T.S. Eliot's poem 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock' contains the famous line 'I have measured out my life with coffee spoons'. This oxymoron highlights the speaker's sense of time passing slowly and meaninglessly.

How to Memorize "oxymoron"

1. visualize
   

   - Visualize a scene where you experience a deafening silence or a bittersweet moment. Try to create a mental image that captures the paradoxical nature of the oxymoron.
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2. associate
   

   - Associate the oxymoron 'deafening silence' with the image of a crowded room filled with people, yet no one is speaking. Or, associate 'bittersweet' with the taste of a chocolate covered chili pepper.
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3. mnemonics
   

   - Create a mnemonic device by remembering the first letter of each word in the definition of oxymoron: OXyMoron = Opposites eXist Mingled In One Rhyme Or Onely

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