Oxymoron (Noun)
Meaning
Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence').
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The phrase "jumbo shrimp" is a classic example of an oxymoron, combining two contradictory terms to create a humorous effect.
- The concept of "bitter sweet" is an oxymoron that highlights the complex emotions that can arise from a single experience.
- The phrase "open secret" is an oxymoron that conveys the idea that something is both hidden and widely known.
- The term "act natural" is an oxymoron that highlights the tension between spontaneity and artificiality.
- The phrase "living dead" is an oxymoron that creates a sense of unease and paradox, highlighting the contradictions of a zombie-like state.