oxymoron

Q: 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 ).

Q: 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.

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)

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

oxymoronic

ˌäk-si-mə-ˈrä-nik

-mȯ-

-sē-

adjective

oxymoronically

ˌäk-si-mə-ˈrä-ni-k(ə-)lē

-mȯ-

-sē-

adverb

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Cramer questioned Powell’s assertion that the decision was a close call, and suggested that looking for progress on inflation while cutting rates is a bit of an oxymoron. —

Kristian Burt, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024 The moral of the story in Gladiator 2 is that war always equals death and a demise to human life which means that the only way to victory is destruction which is an oxymoron in itself. —

Malik Peay, Essence, 3 Dec. 2024 On the set, Selena is a living oxymoron, a daily contradiction: strong, fragile, determined, indeterminate, present, absent, sick, healthy as can be, chatty, quiet, etc. —

Jacques Audiard, IndieWire, 1 Dec. 2024 But for now, he’s established himself as something of an oxymoron instead: the mainstream indie filmmaker. —

Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 26 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for oxymoron