oxymoron

noun

ox·​y·​mo·​ron ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ˌän 

-sē-

plural oxymorons also oxymora ˌäk-si-ˈmȯr-ə 

-sē-

: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness)

More than recognizing oxymorons or simply thinking these examples are clever, students need to understand that they represent moments in which the speaker feels contradictory sentiments.

—Kenneth J. Smith

Of course, "objective parent" is something of an oxymoron, if not an outright lie.

—Michael Martin

broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements

The very notion of sociable, extroverted whales seemed to me at the time an oxymoron.

—Charles Siebert

Kroeber identifies fantasy's distinguishing trope as the oxymoron, the "impossible possibility" that creates an alternate reality …

—Elizabeth A. Fay

oxymoronic

ˌäk-si-mə-ˈrä-nik 

-mȯ-

-sē-

adjective

oxymoronically

ˌäk-si-mə-ˈrä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

-mȯ-

-sē-

adverb

A gap remains between that swarming crowd and a "lonely pair" who resemble that other oxymoronically lonely pair, Milton's Adam and Eve sent packing from God's paradise.

—John Plotz

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a person be an oxymoron?

While we are loath to place restrictions on language use, oxymoron usually refers to a set of contradictory words (such as bittersweet) rather than to a contradictory person. We must also inform you that an oxymoron and a moron have little in common except that both words come from the Greek word for "foolish" (mōros).

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

An oxymoron is a self-contradicting word or group of words (as in Shakespeare’s line from Romeo and Juliet, "Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!"). A paradox is a statement or argument that seems to be contradictory or to go against common sense, but that is yet perhaps still true—for example, "less is more."

Is oxymoronic a word?

Yes. Oxymoronic is the adjectival form of oxymoron. Oxymoronically is the adverbial form of the word. There is, we regret to inform you, no commonly used verb form of the word.

Examples of oxymoron in a Sentence

The phrase "Broadway rock musical" is an oxymoron. Broadway doesn't have the nerve to let the really hard stuff in the house. —Mark Coleman, Rolling Stone, 26 Dec. 1996/ 9 Jan. 1997

Taken to its logical conclusion, this emphasis on the fragmentation of the body politic makes postmodern feminism an oxymoron: feminism and virtually all our laws against sex discrimination reflect the presumption that women do in fact constitute a political category. —Wendy Kaminer, Atlantic, October 1993

He calls himself a "bleeding-heart conservative," and that oxymoron sums up the unique [Jack F.] Kemp role in the Bush Administration: the apostle of free enterprise who is the ambassador to the poor. —William Safire, New York Times Magazine, 25 Mar. 1990

As the war went on, "precision bombing" became a comical oxymoron relished by bomber crews with a sense of black humor. —Paul Fussell, Wartime, 1989

The phrase “cruel kindness” is an oxymoron.

Recent Examples on the Web

Requiring years of experience for positions meant for new grads is an oxymoron. —Allison Danielsen, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025

Healthy gooning, as any gooner can tell you, is an oxymoron. —Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025

The latter sounds like an oxymoron, as the best horror tends to send hearts racing. —Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025

But in principle, a riskless export control license is an oxymoron; licenses are required only when the government has identified a risk. —Don Graves, Foreign Affairs, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek oxymōron, from neuter of oxymōros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mōros foolish

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined above

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Kids Definition

oxymoron

noun

ox·​y·​mo·​ron ˌäk-si-ˈmōr-ˌän 

-ˈmȯr-

plural oxymorons also oxymora -ˈmōr-ə 

-ˈmȯr-ə

: a combination of contradictory words (as cruel kindness)

Etymology

from Greek oxymōros "pointedly foolish," from Greek oxys "sharp, keen" and mōros "foolish"