Content
- How is it different from paradox?
- How is it different from the antithesis?
- What is pleonasm?
- Examples of oxymoron
The oxymoron It is a rhetorical figure that consists of using two opposite words in the same sentence, which generate a new meaning. For example: The midnight sun. (referring to a lighthouse that shines in the dark of night)
This figure can be used to provide metaphorical meaning, to generate sarcasm. It is often used in colloquial language and in poetry as a metaphorical device.
- See also: Rhetorical figures
How is it different from paradox?
Paradox is often confused with oxymoron. The difference is that the paradox is a sentence or phrase that presents opposition as a whole, for example: I only know that I know nothing.
The figure of oxymoron, on the other hand, is supplied by two words (in general, nouns) that are in the same sentence but that are opposed in terms of their concept, forming a new meaning.
- See also: Paradoxes
How is it different from the antithesis?
Antithesis differs from oxymoron in that antithesis postulates a contrast between two ideas and not between two words, like the oxymoron.
For example: A small step for man, a great step for humanity.
- See also: Antithesis
What is pleonasm?
Pleonasm is considered as the rhetorical figure opposite to oxymoron since it uses redundancy within a sentence in order to give expressiveness.
For example: Shut your mouth (mouth is redundant)
Examples of oxymoron
- Pocket battleship
- Nice sore
- Bittersweet
- Sad joys
- Up and down
- Angels from Hell
- Low altitude
- Good loser
- Tense calm
- Alcohol-free beer
- Occult sciences
- Chiaroscuro
- Original copy
- Negative growth
- Crazy sane
- A little of everything
- Overwhelming weakness
- Disgusting wish
- Clamorous silence
- Bitter sweetness
- The sharp (which means witty) stupid
- Ignorant philosopher
- Frozen fire
- Liquid gas
- Gentle rudeness
- Glory with sadness
- Scorching ice
- Go anywhere
- Torrential drizzle
- Defeat victory
- Learned ignorance
- Quiet music
- Night of the living dead
- The sonorous loneliness
- Dry cleaning
- Full of voids
- Dark light
- Rubber hammer
- Less is more
- True Lies
- Quiet music
- Peaceful storm
- Raging pacific
- Little big man
- Painful pleasures
- Virtual reality
- Real games
- Open secret
- Yes but no
- Thunderous silence
- Sole proprietorship
- Sonorous loneliness
- Bright darkness
- Zero tolerance
- Clever clumsiness
- Tragicomedy
- A deafening silence
- Brave coward
- Dead life
- Blind sight
Follow with:
- Antithesis
- Comparison
