Word meaning
oxymoron
noun · ok-see-MOR-on
What does oxymoron mean?
Oxymoron means a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.
Oxymoron in a sentence
“"Deafening silence" is a well-known oxymoron.”
Synonyms for oxymoron
- contradiction in terms
- paradox
- incongruity
Where does oxymoron come from?
From Greek oxys, "sharp," and mōros, "dull," so the word is itself an oxymoron.
How to remember oxymoron
- Say it out loud a few times: ok-see-MOR-on.
- Write one sentence of your own using oxymoron, about something that happened to you today.
- Quiz yourself tomorrow, in three days, and next week. Spaced reviews are what make new words stick.
More words worth knowing
- decorum — behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety.
- predilection — a preference or special liking for something.
- lucrative — producing a great deal of profit.
- dubious — hesitating or doubting; also, not to be relied upon.
- sanguine — optimistic, especially in a difficult situation.
- unanimous — fully in agreement; with everyone agreeing.