oxymoron
noun
ox·y·mo·ron ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ˌän 
-sē-
plural oxymorons or less commonly oxymora ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ə
-sē-
: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness)
broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements
oxymoronic
ˌäk-si-mə-ˈrä-nik
adjective -mȯ-
-sē-
oxymoronically
ˌäk-si-mə-ˈrä-ni-k(ə-)lē
adverb -mȯ-
-sē-
Example Sentences
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, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 1996/ 9 Jan. 1997 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, Atlantic, October 1993 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, New York Times Magazine, 25 Mar. 1990 As the war went on, "precision bombing" became a comical oxymoron relished by bomber crews with a sense of black humor. Paul Fussell, Wartime, 1989 The phrase “cruel kindness” is an oxymoron.
Mark Coleman, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 1996/ 9 Jan. 1997 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, Atlantic, October 1993 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, New York Times Magazine, 25 Mar. 1990 As the war went on, "precision bombing" became a comical oxymoron relished by bomber crews with a sense of black humor. Paul Fussell, Wartime, 1989 The phrase “cruel kindness” is an oxymoron. Recent Examples on the Web This may seem like an oxymoron and can be frustrating to leaders making decisions about what to work on to increase retention. April Sabral, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Italian fine dining, according to chef Melissa Rodriguez, is an oxymoron. Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 1 July 2022 This oxymoron doesn't match any data or statements from key businesses who say quite the opposite. Ben Baldanza, Forbes, 6 May 2022 Rich guys suffering consequences is an oxymoron in the NFL. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2022 No one in legal academia today thinks unenumerated rights are protected by substantive due process, which is an oxymoron anyway. WSJ, 8 May 2022 Using bots to automate a relationship is a giant oxymoron. William Arruda, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2021 Speaking on a panel at the country’s pre-eminent conservative conference about cancel culture—itself something of an oxymoron—Greene lashed out at social media companies for silencing her. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 28 Feb. 2022 This is the third California League team to perish in the last five years, following Bakersfield and High Desert, in areas north of Los Angeles where an affordable family home is not an oxymoron. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2021 See More
April Sabral, Forbes, 11 July 2022 Italian fine dining, according to chef Melissa Rodriguez, is an oxymoron. Caroline Hatchett, Robb Report, 1 July 2022 This oxymoron doesn't match any data or statements from key businesses who say quite the opposite. Ben Baldanza, Forbes, 6 May 2022 Rich guys suffering consequences is an oxymoron in the NFL. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2022 No one in legal academia today thinks unenumerated rights are protected by substantive due process, which is an oxymoron anyway. WSJ, 8 May 2022 Using bots to automate a relationship is a giant oxymoron. William Arruda, Forbes, 9 Sep. 2021 Speaking on a panel at the country’s pre-eminent conservative conference about cancel culture—itself something of an oxymoron—Greene lashed out at social media companies for silencing her. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 28 Feb. 2022 This is the third California League team to perish in the last five years, following Bakersfield and High Desert, in areas north of Los Angeles where an affordable family home is not an oxymoron. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Nov. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Late Greek oxymōron, from neuter of oxymōros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mōros foolish
First Known Use
1657, in the meaning defined above