What Is Oxymoron?
An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two seemingly contradictory terms are combined in order to create a rhetorical effect. Examples include “jumbo shrimp,” “deafening silence,” and “loving hate.” Oxymorons are often used in literature and poetry to create a sense of irony or to challenge the reader’s understanding of a word or concept.
How to Use an Oxymoron in a Sentence?
An oxymoron, as already discussed, is the combination of two contradicting terms. There are some points you have to remember when forming and using oxymorons in sentences. The first point you have to keep in mind is that you have to combine two opposite words, only then can it be considered an oxymoron. Also, do not just use any two opposite terms. Not every combination would make sense. You have to carefully analyse which two words would create an effect on your audience.
Examples of Oxymoron
Some examples of oxymoron include:
Act naturally, Bittersweet, Clearly confused, Found missing, Alone together, Virtual reality, Pretty ugly, Loud silence, Original copy, Dark light, Living death, Open secret, Accidentally on purpose, Frozen fire, Genuine fake, Silent scream, Harmony disorder, Jumbo shrimp
| Oxymoron | Sentence Examples |
| Pretty ugly | I feel these patterns are pretty ugly and not up to the mark. |
| True fiction | Sam likes reading works of true fiction. |
| Original copy | They asked us to submit the original copy. |
| Whole piece | Chester demanded that he wanted the whole piece of cake. |
| Virtual reality | Technological advancement in the educational department is completely based on virtual reality. |
| Cruel kindness | Euthanizing their pet dog was considered as an act of cruel kindness. |
| Small crowd | There was only a small crowd in front of the grocery store. |
| Sweet sorrow | There is always such sweet sorrow in witnessing each and every farewell function. |
| Awfully good | The movie seemed to be awfully good. |
| Open secret | Dharini, moving to France, is an open secret. |
| Clearly confused | I could see that he was clearly confused because he did not answer my questions satisfactorily. |
| Organised mess | My work desk is an organised mess. |
| False truth | This is just the false truth. |
| Friendly fight | My sister and I had a friendly fight. |
| Completely unfinished | Santana left the painting completely unfinished. |
| Painfully beautiful | The process of giving birth is painfully beautiful. |
| Awfully pretty | Lalu looked awfully pretty at the party today. |
| Alone together | They seemed to be enjoying each other’s company alone together. |
| Growing smaller | My brother feels that I am growing smaller every time he comes back after a trip. |
| Only choice | Taking up this job offer was my only choice. |
| Working holiday | Tomorrow is a working holiday. |
| Unbiased opinion | The teacher asked the students for an unbiased opinion. |
| Walking dead | After an entire day of continuous practice, the participants looked as if they were walking dead. |
| Foolish wisdom | Everyone was amazed at her foolish wisdom. |
| Seriously funny | The final dance was seriously funny. |
