Oxymoron: That means, Definition and Use Them with 60+ Examples

What Is an Oxymoron? Definition and Examples | Vital Options and Newest Updates

Oxymoron means a mixture or a pair of phrases or senses that suggests reverse meanings or concepts. Such a mixture of phrases could seem unimaginable but determine within the pair of phrases.

Definition: Oxymoron will be outlined as interweaving or combining two phrases having reverse meanings. The 2 phrases used are contradictory and could seem simply unimaginable as their meanings are reverse (to one another). Even the essential concepts of the 2 oxymoron phrases used are completely contradictory to one another.

Examples: It’s usually utilized in literary items, poems, usages and phrases. It is a distinctive characteristic of the English literary language. The 5 examples of oxymoron are given under:

i. Shyam wrote true fiction (true and fiction as contradictory because it can’t be true whether it is fiction).

ii. The varsity asks for submission of an authentic copy of the delivery certificates (Whether it is authentic the place does the copy come up? If the certificates is the origin, there is no such thing as a query that will probably be a duplicate. However this oxymoron phrase is utilized in all nations.)

iii. John needs to eat the entire piece of cake (Whether it is complete, how come the difficulty of the piece is available in? Complete cake means the whole cake. Naturally, the entire piece is completely contradictory).

iv. The gang was fairly small within the store. Right here, we discover that that means clever, crowd means a big gathering. If a crowd means an assemblage of a lot of folks, it simply can’t be small (like we are saying, a small crowd).

v. Madhav has candy bitter reminiscences of London. You already know very properly that whether it is candy, the query of bitter or bitterness can’t come up. If one thing even when it’s a reminiscence of a metropolis like London is good, it simply can’t be bitter on the similar time. 

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What’s the Goal of an Oxymoron?

The fundamental goal for which oxymoron phrases are used for hundreds of years collectively is to offer a particular impact to a speech, rhetoric or description.

The phrase is used for a number of functions. We’re explaining under the 5 predominant functions of oxymoron that means:

Beautifying the that means when it comes to phrase utilization: Oxymoron is a particular attribute of the English language and it beautifies the language, notably a speech or an editorial.

Making the narrative of expertise seem energetic: If you end up narrating one thing like your expertise with a selected individual, a selected dish of edible issues, a journey expertise and even along with your occupation, using oxymoron phrases will be very helpful. That is as a result of cause that every thing has execs and cons. Therefore, you might be expressing it by seemingly contradictory-meaning phrases to precise this sense.

Making one thing attention-grabbing by fun-effect: Two contradictory that means phrases can one thing fairly attention-grabbing with the factor of enjoyable embedded in it. Like slow-paced operating helped folks to catch the thief. If the thief is operating, it can’t be at a gradual tempo. However linking the gradual tempo with the operating of the thief makes it fairly humorous. However this enjoyable impact is attention-grabbing.

Expressing human philosophy: Mankind’s philosophy types an integral a part of the literature. Human beings have no idea through which route the philosophy would transfer. For instance, if you’re describing a scene through which a cruel-hearted man kills the daddy however spares the lifetime of a small youngster, you need to use oxymoron-meaning phrases to offer literary or rhetorical expression. To exemplify, the merciless man’s kindness saved the kid. Although the merciless man killed the daddy, he spared the lifetime of the little youngster. Thus, his cruelness combines with kindness that are contradictory to one another.

Paradoxical expression by oxymoron phrases: That is one other particular characteristic of oxymoron phrases. You might be curiously making a literary paradox by including oxymoron phrases to the sentence. For instance, if you’re writing a journey story a few hilly place, you possibly can say the limitless sky got here to an finish on the summit of the hill. You already know if one thing is limitless, the query of it coming to an finish simply can’t be there. Limitless means it has no finish. However this expression utilized in a travelogue could make the written piece attention-grabbing.   

How Can We Kind an Oxymoron?

The formation of an oxymoron relies upon upon the poetic or literary diction and stylistic method of the author. In addition to, it additionally is dependent upon the scenario. For instance, if we see a person see some glimmer of hope after a sequence of misfortune or obstacles, we are able to say on a darkish night time, he noticed a light-weight on the finish of the tunnel. Everyone knows a tunnel is darkish. Naturally, whenever you attain the top of the tunnel on a moonless darkish night time, it’ll be darkish, in any case. However the creator writes he noticed mild on the finish of the tunnel that means that even after a sequence of failures, he noticed some hope for achievement.

Right here, hope is supposed by the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel. You may type an oxymoron within the following method:

i. You have to figuratively mix two phrases of reverse meanings. Therefore, you will need to preserve the sense of the sentences whereas utilizing oxymorons.

ii. In adverbs and usages, you possibly can suitably use oxymoron phrases.

iii. In displaying your willpower like ‘good-bad no matter, you will need to do it’. Good and dangerous are completely opposed to one another however we’re utilizing this oxymoron to indicate the dogged willpower.

iv. In a tune or poem, you need to use oxymoron phrases like ‘My love, include me on my working trip’ or ‘Sweetheart, I really like your true lies’.   

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Oxymoron examples from the literature

Oxymoron phrases had been getting utilized in English literature for hundreds of years collectively. We’re giving under 5 such examples:

i. William Shakespeare: Shakespeare used such phrases very often. The next Shakespearean examples will be given to substantiate it:

 “Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate!

 O something, of nothing first create!

 O heavy lightness, critical vainness,

 Misshapen chaos of well-seeming types,

 Feathers of lead, shiny smoke, chilly fireplace, sick well being,

 Nonetheless-waking sleep, that’s not what it’s!

 This love feels I, that really feel no love on this.”

(Excerpts from Romeo and Juliet)

Word: in these strains, you will discover contradictory phrases like brawling love, loving hate or heavy lightness. We discover chilly fireplace, sick well being, nonetheless waking sleep and the final line This love feels I, that really feel no love on this as excellent examples of an oxymoron.

ii. Lord Byron: In his well-known work Don Juan, he used stunning oxymorons like ‘Melancholy Merriment’.

iii. Jack London: He figuratively described the Aurora Borealis lights in Canada utilizing a really well-known oxymoron phrase “Flaming Coldly” This specific oxymoron utilized in The Name of the Wild described that the sunshine of the solar is there within the night time nevertheless it doesn’t have warmth. Therefore, he wrote “Flaming Coldly’.

iv. Alfred Lord Tennyson: In his well-known clean verse Lancelot and Elaine (part of Idylls of the King), the poet writes:  

And peradventure had he seen her first

 She may need made this and that different world

 One other world for the sick man; however now

 The shackles of an outdated love straitened him,

 His honor rooted in dishonor stood,

 And religion untrue stored him falsely true.

Tennyson’s use of Oxymoron phrases like Honour rooted in dishonor, Religion untrue and falsely true added magnificence to this poem.  

v. William Butler Yeats: In ‘Easter 1916’, Yeats used a really well-known oxymoron which is:

All modified, modified completely:

 A horrible magnificence is born.

In his personal poetic diction, Yates repeats Horrible Magnificence often within the lengthy poem. That is thought of top-of-the-line poetic and literary examples of oxymoron.

What’s the Distinction Between Oxymoron and Paradox?

In a literary sense, paradox differs from oxymoron. An oxymoron phrase is an easy means of giving contradictory details however a paradox is used to apparently construe a contradictory factor showing to start with of the sentence however lastly seems to be significant upon expostulation and reflection. Thus, the paradox is usually utilized in explaining one thing which justifies its that means in a tough means whereas oxymoron is easier in describing contradictory that means (largely utilized in poems or literary items having philosophical connotations).

Traits of Oxymoron

Any language together with English evolves. This evolution makes the language wealthy. Throughout the technique of this linguistic evolution, the developments modified. The identical is the case with oxymoron within the English language. Oxymoron developments have modified over the many years. That is extra in order it’s a determine of speech.

One of many developments is that it all the time developed to offer figurative expression to a that means usually leaving the reader to know the inner-meaning or underlying that means of the sentence. Underneath the trendy development, using oxymoron phrases is often prevented nevertheless it doesn’t imply it isn’t getting used at the moment. So as to add a dramatic impact to a written piece, the present development is to make use of widespread phrases that may be understood by all. That is the rationale you will discover that the deep philosophical sense utilized in oxymoron phrases 200 or 100 years in the past isn’t getting used these days.

Browse Alphabetically Oxymoron

An alphabetical record of oxymorons is listed under (one every):

·         A: By accident on goal

·         B: Bittersweet

·         C: Climb down

·         D: Deafening silence

·         E: Countless hour

·         F: Discovered lacking

·         G: Real imitation or real copy

·         H: Highest low

·         I: Imperfect perfection

·         J: Joyous sorrow

·         Ok: Type cruelty

·         L: Loud whisper

·         M: Minor miracle

·         N: Pure make-up

·         O: Open secret

·         P: Fairly ugly

·         Q: Quiet roar

·         R: Random order

·         S: Scholar-teacher

·         T: Tragic Comedy

·         U: Unpopular movie star

·         V: Violently form

·         W: Smart idiot

·         X: Xanthous reddish

·         Y: Sure however no

·         Z: Zero deficit

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Conclusion

Oxymoron is without doubt one of the distinguishing options of particular traits of the English language. Whether it is used for hundreds of years collectively in English literature. It is usually utilized in widespread parlance and discussions. When somebody is describing the experiences gained in a city whereas visiting it, oxymoron phrases are sometimes used. 

To dramatize a sentence, you need to use oxymoron phrase pairs. In poems, novels and quick tales, oxymoron phrase pairs are principally used to create a dramatic impact. It additionally creates curiosity among the many readers. The oxymoron dramatic impact is created within the following means: it makes readers pause to know the innuendoes, it forces readers to know the that means in its figurative sense, it makes readers to suppose and sit up for what’s subsequent. Such phrases preserve readers engaged.

Within the English language, there are a number of methods to current phrases in new methods. They could be a paradox, innuendo, fallacy, allegory and sarcasm. These word-presentation strategies together with that of Oxymoron categorical the that means in a brand new means. There are a number of oxymoron leisure firms and troupes. They tour the world over to stage their packages. Many of the oxymoron leisure teams are associated to the comedy style. There are some distinguished names engaged in comedy style leisure like Oxymorons Comedy and Leisure Troupe, Oxymoron Comedy and Oxymoron Leisure.