What does the saying oxymoron mean?

What does the saying oxymoron mean?

Full Definition of oxymoron : 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.

What is oxymoron example?

The most common type of oxymoron is an adjective followed by a noun. One oxymoron example is “deafening silence,” which describes a silence that is so overpowering it almost feels deafening, or extremely loud—just as an actual sound would.

What is oxymoron give 2 examples?

The word is derived from two Greek words, namely “oxus” (sharp) and “moros” (dull). Some common oxymoron examples include “pretty ugly,” “only choice,” and “same difference.”

What are two words that contradict each other?

An oxymoron is two or more words that contradict themselves (e.g. “poor little rich girl” or “living dead”). Sometimes an oxymoron is intended to be humorous (e.g. “military intelligence” or “rap music”).

What does the oxymoron painfully beautiful mean?

Saying that a picture or a scene is “painfully beautiful” calls attention to the speaker and the object of inquiry. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at once, making it a subject for study and analysis.

Why is jumbo shrimp an oxymoron?

It’s also a slangy way of calling someone small or short. So “jumbo shrimp” is an oxymoron. The term “oxymoron” comes from Greek, where “oxy” means “sharp or acute,” and “moros” means “dumb or foolish.” So oxymoron is itself a bit of, well, an oxymoron. In any case, we’ve been using oxymorons for hundreds of years.

Why would an author use Litotes?

Litotes is a common device used in rhetoric. This is primarily because it prompts a listener or reader to carefully consider what is being said. Litotes also allows the speaker or writer to effectively communicate in an atypical way.