oxymoron

USAGE SUMMARY

"oxymoron" is correct and is used in written English.
It is used to describe a figure of speech which combines two words that have opposite meanings. For example: "Jumbo shrimp" is an oxymoron.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the language of paradox, oxymoron and subtle contradiction – the language of children – does better.

The Guardian - Books

In Maori the country's full name, Aotearoa, is a lovely kind of oxymoron: it translates as "the land of the long white cloud", as if clouds were properties of the earth, or served in some strange way to invoke it.

The Guardian - Books

Darek Urbaniak, the energy policy officer for WWF Europe, said: "Clean coal is an oxymoron the industry likes to use but it doesn't actually exist.

The Guardian

Vox Day is even less polite about minorities and "victim groups": he claims that marital rape is an oxymoron, because "marriage grants consent on an ongoing basis", and that race is linked to IQ (you can imagine which way).

The Guardian - Opinion

Rubio called for increasing airstrikes against Isis militants in Iraq, to be supported on the ground by a "pan-Arab Sunni force" including troops supplied by Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, who to many eyes appears to be the kind of "pro-American dictator" that Rubio dismissed as an "oxymoron" in his last outing before the council on foreign relations, in 2012.

The Guardian

There is the wretched oxymoron of the peaceful ideal of the mid-60s counterculture being subverted by the violence it abhorred, as the decades clicked over.

The Guardian - Music

Roosevelt was a proud hunter-conservationist in the era when the term was not an oxymoron, but more recent American presidents have had to watch their enthusiasm for country sports as carefully as Tory politicians in Britain.

The Guardian

"'Responsible investment' in Mauritius is an oxymoron – this is a tax haven that is especially exploited by Indian investors because of India's double taxation agreement with Mauritius … It seems to be inexplicable why a development finance institution concerned with the public good would choose that location," she said.

The Guardian

If "Wall Street ethics" is ever to become more than an oxymoron, it has to shift to preventative measures.

The Guardian - Money

Two of them, Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler of the University of Chicago, describe their approach as "libertarian paternalism", which, they insist, is not an oxymoron.

The Economist

DOES the current crisis prove that the expression "financial science" is an oxymoron?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When analyzing literature or speeches, correctly identifying and interpreting "oxymorons" can reveal deeper layers of meaning and authorial intent.

Common error

Don't use "oxymoron" interchangeably with "paradox". A paradox is a statement that appears self-contradictory but contains a deeper truth, while an "oxymoron" is simply a combination of two contradictory words.

Linguistic Context

The word "oxymoron" functions primarily as a noun. It is used to refer to a specific figure of speech. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's a common and accepted term in English, describing a combination of contradictory words.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Encyclopedias

13%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "oxymoron" is a grammatically correct and frequently used noun that describes a figure of speech combining contradictory terms. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage across various writing styles. As evidenced by the provided examples, the term is most often found in news, encyclopedias, and science-related contexts. When using "oxymoron", it's important to differentiate it from the broader concept of paradox and to employ it accurately when discussing rhetorical devices or analyzing contradictory language. Common alternatives to "oxymoron" include "contradiction in terms" and "paradoxical expression". To avoid errors in your writing, remember its unique function: it describes combinations of two contradictory terms for effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contradiction in terms

This alternative emphasizes the inherent conflict between the words used.

self-contradictory term

Highlights that the term itself contains opposing elements.

paradoxical expression

Focuses on the paradoxical nature of the phrase.

figure of speech with inherent contradiction

Specifies the literary device aspect and its contradictory nature.

contradictory combination of words

Emphasizes the combination of words that oppose each other.

verbal contradiction

Short alternative that highlights contradiction on the verbal level.

incongruous pairing

Highlights the unusual or out-of-place combination.

juxtaposed opposites

Focuses on the placement of opposing ideas side by side.

contrasting terms

A more general term for words that show opposition.

rhetorical contradiction

Highlights the use of contradiction in rhetoric.

FAQs

What is an example of an "oxymoron"?

Common examples of an "oxymoron" include "jumbo shrimp", "bittersweet", and "deafening silence".

How does an "oxymoron" differ from a paradox?

An "oxymoron" is a figure of speech combining contradictory terms, while a paradox is a statement that appears self-contradictory but contains a deeper truth. An "oxymoron" is a compact contradiction, while a paradox may require more explanation to reveal its meaning.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "oxymoron"?

The term "oxymoron" is appropriate in literary analysis, rhetoric, and general discussions about language and figures of speech. You can also use it to describe situations or concepts that appear contradictory. It is common to use "oxymoron" in "academic writing", "news articles", and "everyday conversations".

What are some alternatives to using the word "oxymoron"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "contradiction in terms", "paradoxical expression", or "self-contradictory term". These phrases can help to describe the same concept with slight variations in emphasis, such as "contradictory combination of words" or "verbal contradiction".