What does oxymoron mean?
An oxymoron is an expression that deliberately or apparently combines contradictory terms, such as "jumbo shrimp," "deafening silence," or "open secret." It is especially associated with poetry, literary criticism, headlines, and other forms of rhetorical wordplay. By bringing opposites together, it can surprise the reader, create emphasis, or reveal a tension that ordinary phrasing might conceal. The word can also describe any statement or situation that seems self-contradictory, although an oxymoron normally depends on the juxtaposition of opposing words or ideas. It should not be confused with a paradox: a paradox may take the form of a logically puzzling proposition, while an oxymoron is primarily a striking contradiction in expression. Once used mainly in specialist criticism, "oxymoron" and its derivative "oxymoronic" are now familiar in ordinary discussion.
nounA figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposing terms, such as "deafening silence." The term may also refer more broadly to an expression whose apparent meaning is self-contradictory.
- A rhetorical expression formed by placing contradictory or opposing words or ideas next to one another.
- An expression, statement, or situation marked by an apparent contradiction.
"Calling an organized chaos a "beautiful disaster" creates a memorable oxymoron."
"The newspaper's headline was a striking oxymoron: "The Forgotten History of Success.""
"To her, the situation was not merely paradoxical but a complete oxymoron."
"Oxymora" is the standard plural, although the less classical "oxymorons" is also commonly used.
"The poet's work is rich with oxymora such as "mercy kill" and "wise ignorance.""
An oxymoron literally joins the Greek roots for "sharp" and "foolish"—a neat label for language that cuts both ways at once.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does oxymoron come from?
The word comes from Greek oxys, meaning "sharp" or "keen," and mōros, meaning "foolish" or "stupid." It was borrowed into English as a rhetorical term for the juxtaposition of contradictory expressions. Modern cognates and related formations include "moron," while "acute," "oxide," and "oxygen" share the root represented by oxys.
Related word forms
How oxymoron is actually used
The word is most common in literary criticism, rhetoric, and discussion of language, though "oxymoronic" is widely used in general speech. Some expressions regarded as oxymorons are merely unusual rather than strictly contradictory.
Easily confused with oxymoron
An oxymoron juxtaposes contradictory terms, whereas a paradox is a statement or situation that seems contradictory or surprising, often because it contains an apparent logical contradiction.