the linking of ordinarily contradictory terms.

A term that contradicts itself, such as "jumbo shrimp" or "military intelligence" or "ethical debt collector" or "reasonable legal fees."

A combination of opposites; the union of contradictory terms. Romeo's line "feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health" has four examples of the device.

a contradiction in terms, sometimes an error and sometime a figure of speech. Some fun is had by finding accidental oxymorons or by alleging that certain terms, such as "military intelligence," are oxymorons. But some oxymorons such as "deafening silence" are intended figures of speech: "The searing cold of the frozen pipe seized my tongue." "Searing" is an effect of great heat, not of cold. But in the extreme the sensations of heat and cold may be almost indistinguishable, and that is the point of the figure. Likewise, one may be just as blind in a great light as one is in total darkness and this might be the basis of an oxymoron.

Meaning established by the association of incongruous or contradictory words. Ex: "Military Intelligence" "Silent scream" "Cafeteria food"

conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence')

a camel cigarette company phrase which contains contradictory terms

a combination of contradictory or incongruous words

a combination oftwo words that are completely opposite in meaning

a condensed paradox

a contadictory statement

a contradiction, a deception

a contradiction in itself

a contradiction in terms, such as "a war for peace" or "military intelligence" or "destroying the village in order to save it" or "forcing a people to be free at gunpoint" or "using deficit spending to force fiscal responsibility on Congress"

a contradictory statement that for some reason, makes sense

a contradictory word pair

a figure of speach

a figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms are combined, i

a figure of speech of using contradictory statements or imagery to express something

a figure of speech or device in writing that combines two terms that are usually thought to be contradictory

a figure of speech which employs incongruous terms for epigrammatic effect

a literary figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite terms or ideas are combined to create a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means

a literary technique in which two contradictory words come together for a special effect

an expression containing two opposing words to make a point

a phrase that contains words that look like opposites of each other

a phrase that has words that seem to have opposite meanings

a phrase that seems to contradict itself

a pointed contradiction that's self contained

a rhetorical figure in which contradictory terms are combined to create new meaning

a rhetorical figure of speech, which joins two contradictory terms for paradoxical effect, as in "a wise fool"

a self-contradictory phrase or statement, one where the words which make up that phrase don't agree with each other and conflict in meaning

a sentence or phrase using contradictory words are used together for special effect

a statement or pairing of two words that contradict each other, such as "black light" or "pretty ugly

a statement that cannot be true, because it contradicts with itself

a thing that contradicts itself

a two-word phrase containing contradictory elements

a word or phrase which seems true but is obsurdly untrue

A juxtaposition of two unlike things to create ambiguity through contradiction. example- "sensuous coldness" Helen Keller

A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. That shirt is pretty ugly.)

a figure of speech where two adjectives or a noun and an adjective contradict each other.

word combination in which the words have contradictory meanings (contentious harmony)

The conjunction of words which, at first, seem to be contradictory or in disagreement with one another, but express a truth or dramatic effect, such as “cool fire,” “deafening silence,“ “wise folly,“ or “poor little rich girl.

A phrase whose words are contradictory that is incongruitious is oxymoronic. Example:“square circle”“smart fool”“conspicuous absence

(Gk. oxys 'sharp, acid' + moros 'foolish' ® 'a pointed stupidity'; ¥Ù¬Þ§Î®eªk¡N°f³ë; An apparently self-contradictory figure of speech, e.g. 'a fearful joy', or 'the sonorous silence'.

A paradox reduced to two words, usually in an adjective-noun ("eloquent silence") or adverb-adjective ("inertly strong") relationship, and is used for effect, to emphasize contrasts, incongruities, hypocrisy, or simply the complex nature of reality. Examples: wise fool, ignorantly learned, laughing sadness, pious hate.

The combining of words that contradict each other. For example: bitter sweet.

a figure of speech that yokes two contradictory terms

A phrase composed of two words with contradictory meanings. Often used to make a joke, i.e., the phrase "military intelligence." Go back to top

A figure of speech combining contradictory words for descriptive purposes. An example: Jumbo shrimp.

is a combination of contradictory terms. Example: In Romeo and Juliet, "O brawling love! O loving hate!" are examples of oxymorons.

a phrase made up of two seemingly opposite words.

a figure of speech which yokes two contradictory terms

the technical term for a paradox which is expressed in two contradictory words. e.g. bitter sweet; love hate; bitter laughter.

A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined

A juxtaposition of two unlike things to create ambiguity through contradiction; such as a "happy funeral".

A figure of speech consisting generally of two apparently contradictory terms which express a startling paradox. Example: “I burn and freeze,” “pleasing pains,” “loving hate,” are all oxymorons that are used in Elizabethan love poetry.