50 Examples of Oxymoron

Oxymoron

The oxymoron it is a rhetorical figure that consists of using two opposite words in the same sentence, which generate a new meaning. For example: The midnight sun. (referring to a lighthouse that shines in the dark of night)

This figure can be used to provide metaphorical meaning, to generate sarcasm. It is often used in colloquial language and in poetry as a metaphorical device.

How is it different from paradox?

Paradox is often confused with oxymoron. The difference is that the paradox is a sentence or phrase that presents opposition as a whole, for example:I only know that I know nothing.

The oxymoron figure, on the other hand, is supplied with two words (generally, nouns) that are found in the same sentence but that are opposed in terms of their concept, forming a new meaning.

How is it different from the antithesis?

Antithesis differs from oxymoron in that antithesis postulates a contrast between two ideas and not between two words, like the oxymoron.

For example: A small step for man, a great step for humanity.

What is pleonasm?

Pleonasm is considered as the rhetorical figure opposite to oxymoron since it uses redundancy within a sentence in order to give expressiveness.

For example: Shut your mouth (mouth is redundant)

Examples of oxymoron

1. Pocket battleship
2. Nice sore
3. Bittersweet
4. Sad joys
5. Ups and downs
6. Angels from Hell
7. Low altitude
8. Good loser
9. Tense calm
10. Alcohol-free beer
11. Occult sciences
12. Chiaroscuro
13. Original copy
14. Negative growth
15. Crazy sane
16. A little of everything
17. Overwhelming weakness
18. Disgusting wish
19. Clamorous silence
20. Bitter sweetness
21. The sharp (which means witty) stupid
22. Ignorant philosopher
23. Frozen fire
24. Liquid gas
25. Gentle rudeness
26. Glory with sadness
27. Scorching ice
28. Go anywhere
29. Torrential drizzle
30. Defeat victory
31. Learned ignorance
32. Quiet music
33. Night of the living dead
34. The sonorous loneliness
35. Dry cleaning
36. Full of voids
37. Dark light
38. Rubber hammer
39. Less is more
40. True Lies
41. Quiet music
42. Peaceful storm
43. Raging pacific
44. Little big man
45. Painful pleasures
46. Virtual reality
47. Real games
48. Open secret
49. Yes but no
50. Thunderous silence
51. Sole proprietorships
52. Sonorous loneliness
53. Bright darkness
54. Zero tolerance
55. Clever clumsiness
56. Tragicomedy
57. A deafening silence
58. Brave coward
59. Dead life
60. Blind sight

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