oxymoron — a combination of contradictory words
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a combination of contradictory words
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɑːksɪmɔːrɑːn/
Example Sentences
- My boss is a living oxymoron - he says 'act naturally' during our 'mandatory fun' meetings.
- The term 'jumbo shrimp' is a well-known oxymoron in English.
- She called it 'organized chaos' - a perfect oxymoron to describe her messy but functional workspace.
oxymoron
NOUN[/ˈɑːksɪmɔːrɑːn/]
a combination of contradictory words
The phrase 'deafening silence' is a classic oxymoron that stops you mid-thought.
A professor teaching boron calls the student a moron - creating an oxymoron!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Greek, combining 'oxys' meaning 'sharp/keen' and 'moros' meaning 'dull/foolish'. The word itself is an oxymoron, demonstrating its own meaning through the contradiction of its parts.
Breakdown
oxy- (sharp, keen) + moron (dull, foolish)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My boss is a living oxymoron - he says 'act naturally' during our 'mandatory fun' meetings.”
“The term 'jumbo shrimp' is a well-known oxymoron in English.”
“She called it 'organized chaos' - a perfect oxymoron to describe her messy but functional workspace.”
“'Student athlete' might be an oxymoron considering how much time sports take up!”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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