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by Mary Anne Shew
on
Looking for oxymoron examples? This flavorful figurative language helps fold more flair and fun into any sentence you write.
As a freelance writer, I’m always looking for new techniques to spice up my work.
And oxymorons are one of the “seasonings” in great . Sprinkle in a few to evoke a laugh, a sense of wonder, drama, playfulness, and more.
In this post, we’ll explore:
Let’s get started.
An is a figure of in which (opposite meanings) are put together in an unexpected way.
Fun Fact: Oxymoron comes from the Greek word oksús (meaning “keen”) and mōros (meaning “stupid”). The word oxymoron is quite literally an oxymoron!
Writers have used them for centuries as a to describe life’s oddities, conflicts, incongruities, heartbreak, and craziness. Whether in or , using words with oxymoronic can lend a sense of humor, irony, or sarcasm.
Oxymorons aren’t unique to the
In fact, they’re quite common in across multiple languages, with new ones surfacing all the time — often with :
The pairing of contradictory terms grabs attention, generates surprise, and creates an impression. Also, mastering the is an elegant way to weave clever wordplay into your creative .
An can be a or in one of these formats:
Oxymorons and juxtapositions are closely related literary terms.
Juxtaposition is about placing two things side by side to bring out their differences; it’s about comparing situations, ideas, emotions, characters, settings, and events.
A great is the movie, “Legally Blonde,” starring Reese Witherspoon.
She decides to go to Harvard Law School because she wants to win her boyfriend back.
But she doesn’t look at all like the typical law student with her pink clothes, her Chihuahua, Bruiser, who goes with her everywhere in her tote bag, and her bright orange MacBook standing out against all the gray and silver laptops in the classroom.
An is a type of juxtaposition, just shorter and focused on two contradictory elements. For , “sorority girl lawyer” might be an that summarizes the plot of “Legally Blond”.
is another in which a statement features initially contrasting ideas. However, with applied thought, paradoxes make sense. Also, they often lead the to an underlying truth.
is considered a “condensed” . can be figuratively true but not literally true.
Both are contradictions, but the big difference between oxymoron and paradox is that a is something you think about. In contrast, an is a description that’s enjoyed in the moment and then forgotten as the or listener moves on.
There are many great oxymorons out there, and more are discovered and invented every day. Here are 67 examples that we think you’ll .
Modern pop culture works hard to attract the attention of the targeted viewer or in today’s flood of advertising. And because oxymorons provoke curiosity and interest, they make great titles for books, movies, and television:
Movie titles:
Book titles:
Some of the longest-lasting oxymorons were generated by Shakespeare in his plays and are still widely used today.
But Shakespeare isn’t the only guru.
In fact, many modern authors are coming up with their own as well, for :
These examples might help you use oxymorons to good effect in your :
A song’s amazing melody may make it a fan-favorite. Add a great title, like an that represents the poetry of the lyrics, and you have a song that’s a beloved classic for years to come.
Titles:
Lyrics:
Many oxymorons have become part of our daily language to the point where they now make sense and seem normal. They name things we know are contradictory but still apply at work, at home, in families, and in society.
A comical oxymoron often comes from sarcastic or cynical contradictions. When used well, your or listener will at least smile if not laugh out loud.
Oxymorons are a great way to evoke emotion, reveal a , confuse the , or add humor to your . They are a versatile tool that sets your work apart from your competition and makes it more enjoyable and memorable by:
That’s over five dozen in several different formats to inspire fresh ways to hook your readers and keep their interest.
As great a list as this might be, just reading this post and moving on won’t make the magic happen in your .
Bookmark this post.
Make a point of coming back to it in your editing process, taking the time to find where your slumps and could use a kick in the phrasing.
Use the above examples where they fit or as models for creating your own contradictory meanings.
This will pay off handsomely.
Your will connect with your readers’ emotions, you’ll keep their attention all the way through, and they’ll come to the end wishing there was more.
Literary Devices, Writing
The post was originally published on September 13th, 2021. It has been updated for clarity and comprehensiveness.
Mary Anne Shew
Mary Anne Shew is a freelance writer with 20+ years of experience. She spent 40+ hours scouring your favorite books, movies and shows for the very best oxymoron examples to include in this post.