oxymoron

Q: Can a person be an oxymoron?

While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet ) rather than to a contradictory person. We must also inform you that an oxymoron and a moron have little in common except that both words come from the Greek word for "foolish" ( mōros ).

Q: Is 'oxymoronic' a word?

Yes. Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron . Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. There is, we regret to inform you, no commonly used verb form of the word.

noun

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ox·y·mo·ron | \ ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ˌän

, -sē- \

plural oxymorons or less commonly oxymora\ ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ə

, -sē- \

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

Other Words from oxymoron Frequently Asked Questions About oxymoron Example Sentences Learn More about oxymoron

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Frequently Asked Questions About oxymoron

Can a person be an oxymoron?

While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet) rather than to a contradictory person. We must also inform you that an oxymoron and a moron have little in common except that both words come from the Greek word for "foolish" (mōros).

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeare’s line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!"). A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still true—for example, "less is more."

Is oxymoronic a word?

Yes. Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. There is, we regret to inform you, no commonly used verb form of the word.

Examples of oxymoron in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web Uphill skiing is not an oxymoron, writes Times contributor Brian E. Clark. — Los Angeles Times, "What do sinks and virtual travel have in common? Hear us out...," 17 Dec. 2020 That experience was both priceless and valuable — and that’s not an oxymoron. — Star Tribune, "Readers Write: The judicial branch, race in Minnesota, the pandemic response," 23 Oct. 2020 It’s the latest rage: wear a mask, get tested and keep your social distance, America’s newest oxymoron. — Kevin Fisher-paulson, SFChronicle.com, "Fisher-Paulson: In the woke era, I am happy being the cool kid’s dad," 18 Aug. 2020 But many people consider the phrase to be an Orwellian oxymoron. — Robert Hackett, Fortune, "Inside China’s drive for digital currency dominance," 10 Aug. 2020 The concept itself may strike some as something of an oxymoron. — Jason Kehe, Wired, "The Media Monsters in the National Dialog," 8 July 2020 The Tibetans spend a lot of time living with death, if that isn't an oxymoron. — TheWeek, "Sooner or later we all face death. Will a sense of meaning help us?," 17 May 2020 More Fusion Despite sounding like an oxymoron, stress relaxation is a way that materials redistribute internal forces in order to cope with strain. — Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, "New Material Finally Makes It Into the Almighty Nuclear Code," 4 May 2020 There’s something charming about ALPHA NERD, which may seem like an oxymoron, but only in a bully-centric society. — Caitlin Lovinger, New York Times, "Operate On With a Beam," 3 Apr. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'oxymoron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.