oxymoron

ox·y·mo·ron

O0208800 (ŏk′sē-môr′ŏn′)n. pl. ox·y·mo·rons or ox·y·mo·ra (-môr′ə) A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.

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[Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumōron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumōros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp, keen; see oxygen + mōros, dull, foolish.]

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ox′y·mo·ron′ic (-mə-rŏn′ĭk) adj.ox′y·mo·ron′i·cal·ly adv.

oxymoron

(ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn) n, pl -mora (-ˈmɔːrə) (Literary & Literary Critical Terms) rhetoric an epigrammatic effect, by which contradictory terms are used in conjunction: living death; fiend angelical. [C17: via New Latin from Greek oxumōron, from oxus sharp + mōros stupid]

ox•y•mo•ron

(ˌɒk sɪˈmɔr ɒn, -ˈmoʊr-)

n., pl. -mo•ra (-ˈmɔr ə, -ˈmoʊr ə) a figure of speech that uses seeming contradictions, as “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.” [1650–60; < Late Greek oxýmōron, neuter of Greek oxýmōros pointedly foolish =oxý- oxy-¹ + mōrós dull (see moron)] ox•y•mo•ron•ic (ˌɒk si məˈrɒn ɪk) adj.

oxymoron

a rhetorical device or figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite words or concepts are combined for effect. — oxymoronic, adj.See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices

oxymoron

1. The use of contradictory terms together to create an effect, such as in ”sweet conqueror.”2. A statement combining two conflicting terms for effect.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

oxymoron - conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence')figure of speech, trope, image, figure - language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense

Translations