View synonyms for oxymoron

oxymoron

[ ok-si-mawr-on, -mohr- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

, Rhetoric.

, plural ox·y·mo·ra [ok-si-, mawr, -, uh, -, mohr, -, uh], ox·y·mor·ons.

a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”

oxymoron

/ ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn /

noun

rhetoric an epigrammatic effect, by which contradictory terms are used in conjunction
living death
fiend angelical

oxymoron

A rhetorical device in which two seemingly contradictory words are used together for effect: “She is just a poor little rich girl.”

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Other Words From

ox·y·mo·ron·ic [ok-see-m, uh, -, ron, -ik], adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of oxymoron¹

First recorded in 1650–60; from Late Latin oxymorum, from presumed Greek oxýmōron (unrecorded), neuter of oxýmōros (unrecorded) “sharp-dull,” equivalent to oxý(s) “sharp” ( oxy- ¹ ) + mōrós “dull” ( moron )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of oxymoron¹

C17: via New Latin from Greek oxumōron, from oxus sharp + mōros stupid

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oxymetazoline oxymorphone

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