Oxymoron. A playful determine of speech pairing contradictory phrases. Can’t consider oxymoron examples off the highest of your head? Think about this.
Keep in mind that time you have been on a working trip once you got here throughout the authentic copy of “The Sound of Silence” however the pages have been in a random order? You have been sporting your digital actuality headset so that you don’t see the plastic silverware holding a chunk of jumbo shrimp you knocked over, making a crash touchdown on the pages. The mess was fairly ugly so your solely alternative was the unattainable resolution: to destroy the proof.
That wasn’t you? Then good grief, there’s a particular chance you don’t know what an oxymoron is.
Effectively, that went over like a lead balloon.
Oxymorons and paradoxes and juxtapositions, oh my!
Is it an oxymoron? A paradox? Or maybe a juxtaposition? Similar distinction.
Whereas these are carefully associated literary phrases, they aren’t the identical and have refined variations.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is all about inserting two opposing issues facet by facet to focus on their variations. It focuses on evaluating and contrasting extra so than contradicting.
- Evening and day
- Good and evil
- Black and white
- David and Goliath
Paradox
A paradox, like an oxymoron, is contradictory. A paradoxical assertion is self-contradictory, which can appear false however when logically examined proves to be true.
- The one factor I do know is that I do know nothing
- This assertion is fake
- It’s the starting of the tip
- “All animals are equal, however some are extra equal than others” (Animal Farm by George Orwell)
The place an oxymoron makes use of contradicting phrases, a paradox makes use of contradicting concepts. Paradoxes pressure us to cease and suppose to uncover the inherent reality.
Oxymoron
Whereas not the identical, an oxymoron is each a sort of juxtaposition and a sort of paradox. An oxymoron takes opposing components and purposely contradicts them. Whereas the longer, extra advanced paradoxes are supposed to be contemplated and explored, an oxymoron is sort of a condensed paradox meant to be loved within the second and moved alongside.
- Concrete jungle
- Even odds
- Deafening silence
- Clearly misunderstood
Even the phrase oxymoron is an oxymoron. Coming from the Greek phrases “oksús” (eager) and “mōros” (silly), the phrase actually means eager fool.
Oxymorons as titles
In case you’re in search of a catchy, attention-grabbing title to hook your readers, oxymorons are a good way to just do that. Utilizing one in a title provides immediate intrigue to attract a reader in, desirous to know extra.
Many well-known books, films, and songs incorporate oxymorons into their titles. These contradictory components act as an invite to be taught extra in regards to the story’s scrumptious complexities.
Oxymoron examples in guide titles
- Midnight Solar (Twilight Collection #5) by Stephanie Meyer
- Huge Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
- The Worst Finest Man by Mia Sosa
- The Huge Quick by Michael Lewis
- Winter Backyard by Kristin Hannah
- Depraved Saints by Emily A. Duncan
Oxymoron examples in film and TV titles
- Evening of the Dwelling Useless (1968)
- Again to the Future (1985)
- True Lies (1994)
- Eyes Broad Shut (1999)
- She’s the Man (2006)
- Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
- Inside Out (2015)
- Resident Alien (2021-present)
Oxymoron examples in music titles
- “A Laborious Day’s Evening” by The Beatles
- “Whats up Goodbye” by The Beatles
- “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel
- “Deadman Strolling” by Bruce Springsteen
- “Bitter Candy Symphony” by The Verve
- “Set Fireplace to the Rain” by Adele
Well-known oxymoron examples in literature
There are many critical (and significantly humorous) oxymorons woven into traditional and trendy literature.
William Shakespeare, Romeo & Juliet
- “Parting is such candy sorrow.”
Some of the well-known oxymoron examples comes from Juliet’s well-known line in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. The literary system works on this case to explain the duality of the character’s emotions. Sorrow for having to go away, but candy interested by reuniting once more.
- “O brawling love! O loving hate!”
This oxymoronic outburst by Romeo expresses his internal turmoil towards his unrequited love for Rosaline.
- “A damned saint, an honorable villain!”
Juliet waivers in her view of Romeo not being solely good or unhealthy.
- “Feather of lead, brilliant smoke, chilly fireplace, sick well being, Nonetheless-waking sleep that isn’t what it’s!”
Romeo makes use of this collection of a number of oxymorons as an example the devastating feelings he’s feeling following his rejection by Rosaline.
William Shakespeare, Macbeth
- “I do know this can be a joyful hassle to you.”
Macduff makes use of this oxymoron to say that internet hosting King Duncan is each an honor and a ache.
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Nice Gatsby
- “Mr. Wolfsheim…started to eat with ferocious delicacy.”
This oxymoron gives imagery to the scene in addition to character description.
Utilizing oxymorons successfully in your writing
Up to now, now we have checked out examples of oxymorons. Now let’s dive into the aim this overtly misleading figurative language serves and why you may wish to use it in your individual writing.
Whether or not you’re crafting a compelling private narrative, intelligent copy, or persuasive argument, oxymorons are a flexible device that may add aptitude, depth, and complexity to your work.
Deeper that means
Authors who use oxymorons select these phrases properly. They might have simply mentioned, “she is sincere,” however they selected to say, “she is deceptively sincere,” or “the classroom was organized chaos,” as an alternative of merely, “the classroom was chaos.” Why?
Utilizing contradictory phrases side-by-side appears…contradictory, however what it actually does is infuse a deeper that means than both or each phrases getting used individually. Oxymorons can both create a complete new that means or level out that each might be true on the identical time. Ever accomplished a exercise that harm so good or cried pleased tears? Each might be true.
Dramatic impact
All oxymorons stand out, however a well-placed oxymoron can cease a reader of their tracks. They’ll add an aura or suspense to go away a long-lasting impression. Saying “silent scream” creates a clearer, extra ominous, and extra memorable image than merely saying “scream” or “shock.”
Leisure
In my unbiased opinion, wit is the most effective sort of humor, and oxymorons are a terribly good approach to deliver playfulness to an editorial. Similar to it may be used so as to add pressure, suspense, or thriller, a well-crafted, completely timed oxymoron can seamlessly present comedic aid.
On a regular basis oxymorons
We use oxymorons day-after-day with out even interested by it. Listed here are some that you just seemingly hear, say, or use commonly and should not have even observed that they’re oxymorons.
- Slumber celebration
- Passive aggressive
- Sensible joke
- Act pure
- Paper towel
- Metal wool
- White chocolate
- Frozen scorching chocolate
- Liquid fuel
- Icy Scorching
- Outdated information
- Rolling cease
- Freezer burn
- Fastened-rate variable
- Numb feeling
- Nonprofit enterprise
- Scholar instructor
- Graduate pupil
- Grownup youngsters
- Overseas nationwide
- Paid volunteer
- Stay recording
- Biggie Smalls
- Doing nothing
Oxymorons can have your readers doing double takes.
With oxymorons, you may discover the duality of emotions and characters, create suspense, or make a correctly ridiculous joke.
Attempt utilizing a few of these oxymoron examples to boost your writing or add a little bit of zest to your titles that can interact even probably the most intensely apathetic reader.
