oxymoron
A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used…A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.
» This is an oxymoron.
Это оксюморон.
Це оксюморон.
Meaning
2 senses(rhetoric)A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.
Oxymoron
окси́моронoksímoron, оксю́моронoksjúmoron
окси́моронoksýmoron
(broadly, proscribed, sometimes)A contradiction in terms.
conjoining contradictory terms (as in ‘deafening silence’)
Examples
11 sentencesThis is an oxymoron.
Це оксюморон.
ruЭто оксюморон.
"Too much garlic" is an oxymoron.
de"Zu viel Knoblauch" ist ein Widerspruch in sich.
Racism and science are an oxymoron.
Is "poor and happy" an oxymoron?
Is "rich but sad" an oxymoron?
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
First attested in the 17th century, noun use of 5th century Latin oxymōrum (adjective), neFirst attested in the 17th century, noun use of 5th century Latin oxymōrum (adjective), neut. nom. form of oxymōrus (adjective), from Ancient Greek ὀξύμωρος (oxúmōros), compound of ὀξύς (oxús, “sharp, keen, pointed”) (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + μωρός (mōrós, “dull, stupid, foolish”) (English moron (“stupid person”)). Literally "sharp-dull", "keen-stupid", or "pointed-foolish" – itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore (literally “wise fool”), influenced by similar analysis. The compound form ὀξύμωρον (oxúmōron) is not found in the extant Ancient Greek sources.
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Forms
plural: oxymorons / oxymoraAntonyms
2 antonymsWord family
9 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular