Writing 101: What Is an Oxymoron?

Learn About the Differences Between Oxymoron and

Paradox With Examples

An oxymoron is a figure of speech: a creative approach to language that plays with meaning
and the use of words in a non-literal sense. This literary device combines words with
contradictory definitions to coin a new word or phrase. The incongruity of the resulting
statement allows writers to play with language and meaning.

What Is an Oxymoron?
Oxymorons are oppositional words joined to create a unique word or phrase. An oxymoron
can seem absurd yet make perfect sense at the same time. For example, the phrase “virtual
reality” is formed from contrasting words. The word “oxymoron” is an oxymoron itself,
derived from the Greek words “oxys” (meaning “sharp”) and “moros” (meaning “dull”).

What Is the Purpose of Oxymoron in Literature?

Oxymorons can support a lighthearted mood or tone, as well as emphasize conflict. The
juxtaposition of two opposing words can also:
 Add dramatic effect. Oxymorons are unique. At first glance they seem to be self-
defeating, with words that negate one another. As a complete thought, an oxymoron
amplifies the meaning of the second word. For example, the phrase “absolutely
unsure” is an oxymoron. Instead of pulling away from one another, the contrasting
definitions support the greater concept of being completely unsure. This emphasis
adds a dramatic effect to a sentence or passage.
 Create a playful tone. The use of oxymorons add playfulness to writing. Oxymorons
like “seriously funny,” “original copy,” “plastic glasses,” and “clearly confused”
juxtapose opposing words next to one another, but their ability to make sense
despite their opposing forces adds wit to writing.
 Reveal a deeper meaning. The dichotomy of an oxymoron often expresses a complex
idea. It gives a reader pause and makes them think about the context in a different
light. The word “bittersweet,” for example, is an oxymoron that reveals a double-
sided existence of an object or idea.
 Add irony. There are examples of oxymorons whose meanings might not seem in
contrast to one another, but their cultural associations are. Ironic oxymorons
include: “airline schedule,” “business ethics,” and “military intelligence.”

What Is the Difference Between Oxymoron and Paradox?

While close in appearance, there are motivational differences between an oxymoron and
a paradox.
 An oxymoron is a descriptive device that places two opposing words next to or near
to one another.
 A paradox, while also using contradictory terms or thoughts, is generally a longer
statement, and a twist of words as well as logic.
10 Examples of Common Oxymorons
Oxymorons have made it into the mainstream lexicon of everyday conversation as well as
literature. Here are 10 examples of popular oxymorons:
1. “Small crowd”
 2. “Old news”
3. “Open secret”
4. “Living dead”
5. “Deafening silence”
6. “Only choice”
7. “Pretty ugly”
8. “Awfully good”
9. “Almost exactly”
10. “Same difference”
3 Examples of Oxymoron in Literature
Oxymorons have been used in literature for centuries. From poetry to prose, writers have
used oxymorons to add color and wit.
1. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare used an oxymoron in one of
the most famous lines he ever wrote, which comes from Romeo and Juliet: “Parting
is such sweet sorrow.” He also used oxymorons in other parts of the play, like in the
scene when Romeo is trying to processes the pain of unrequited love through a
series of oxymorons. His inner conflict is shown through the contradictions of his
words: “Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate! O anything, of nothing first
create!”
2. Jack London, Call of the Wild. London uses figurative language to describe the harsh
beauty of the Canadian Yukon during the Klondike Gold Rush. When the Aurora
Borealis lights up the sky, London describes it “flaming coldly.” When Buck, the main
dog in this story, is beaten into submission, London describes his pain as “exquisite
agony.” The oxymorons mirror the contrast between the serene yet brutal landscape
of the Yukon and Buck’s resistance to his new environment and his primal desire to
embrace it.
3. Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre. This classic story from 1847 revolves around themes of
love, independence, family, and obligation. Torn between love and duty, St. John,
cousin of Jane, describes his deep feelings for Rosamond Oliver as “delicious poison.”
He feels an overwhelming temptation to be with the woman he loves, even knowing
it will ultimately steer him off course.
Examples of Paradox in Life and Literature
A paradox is a statement that may seem contradictory but can be true (or at least make
sense). This makes them stand out and play an important role in literature and everyday life.
Beyond that, they can simply be entertaining brain teasers.
Take the statement "Less is more." This statement uses two opposites to contradict one
another. How can less be more? The concept is that something less complicated is often
more appreciated. Let's talk a little bit more about this rhetorical device and enjoy a handful
of examples of paradox.
General Paradoxes
Ready to flex your mental muscles? Some of these statements may make you pause and
think. Here are some thought-provoking paradox examples:
 Save money by spending it.
 If I know one thing, it's that I know nothing.
 This is the beginning of the end.
 Deep down, you're really shallow.
 I'm a compulsive liar.
 "Men work together whether they work together or apart." - Robert Frost
 "What a pity that youth must be wasted on the young." - George Bernard Shaw
 "I can resist anything but temptation." - Oscar Wilde
A paradox can be thought-provoking but they're also fun to consider. Here are some
paradoxes with a witty bent:
 Here are the rules: Ignore all rules.
 The second sentence is false. The first sentence is true.
 I only message those who do not message.
Paradoxes in Literature
Let's continue to some larger examples of paradox that appear in works of literature.
Examining their purpose will become an important part of the process.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
In George Orwell's Animal Farm, "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than
others" is one of the cardinal rules. Clearly this statement does not make logical sense.
However, the point of a paradox is to point out a truth, even if the statements contradict
each other.
Orwell is making a political statement here, but what? Perhaps it's that the government
claims everyone is equal when, clearly, that's false. Or, perhaps it's that individuals have
skewed perceptions of what it means to be equal. The interpretation is up to the reader to
decide.
"Holy Sonnet 11" by John Donne
Poet John Donne wrote, "Death, thou shalt die," in "Holy Sonnet 11." That's sort of
contradictory, isn't it? How can death die? Well, this is the beauty of the paradox.
On the surface, this seems like a grim line. Quite the contrary, though. What Donne is really
saying is that, upon death, heaven is imminent. And, in heaven, death shall die, because you
are no longer at the mercy of your inevitable demise. When you remove the morbid veneer,
this is actually a statement of hope.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
In William Shakespeare's Hamlet, the title character states, "I must be cruel to be kind." On
the surface, once again, this statement doesn't seem to make much sense. How can an
individual convey kindness through cruelty?
In this case, Hamlet is speaking about how he plans to slay Claudius in order to avenge his
father's death. His mother is now married to Claudius, so, of course, this will be a tragedy
for her. However, he does not want his mother to be the lover of his father's murderer
(unbeknownst to her) any longer. He believes the murder will be for her own good.
Paradox vs. Oxymoron
It's common to confuse a paradox with an oxymoron. Both are found in literature and
everyday conversation. Here's the difference between the two:
 A paradox is a statement or group of sentences that contradict what we know while
delivering an inherent truth.
 An oxymoron is a combination of two words that contradict each other. It's a
dramatic figure of speech.
Oxymorons are often referred to as a "contradiction in terms." They're just that. A word or
two that bounce off each other. Paradoxes, however, are entire phrases, sentences or
quotes. In truth, both achieve the same result. Examples of oxymorons include bittersweet,
jumbo shrimp, only choice, and sweet sorrow.
A Purposeful Paradox
Paradoxes have important implications in the world of literature. They take aim at the
overall theme. Take George Orwell, for example. Animal Farm was all about class
distinctions and inequalities. With one paradoxical line, he highlighted what was true for
him. To make sure your next paradox aligns with the theme of your story, take a look at
these Examples of Theme in Literature.

OXYMORONS
Examples of Oxymorons
An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other. As
with other rhetorical devices, oxymorons are used for a variety of purposes. Sometimes
they're used to create a little bit of drama for the reader; sometimes they're used to make a
person stop and think, whether that's to laugh or to wonder.
What Is an Oxymoron?
The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have
opposite meanings. Because of this, an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in
terms. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. Instead, meaning should be derived
from the context in which an oxymoron is used.
A common oxymoron is the phrase "the same difference." This phrase qualifies as an
oxymoron because the words "same" and "difference" have opposite meanings. Bringing
them together into one phrase can produce a verbally puzzling, yet engaging, effect.
100+ Common Oxymorons
It's likely you've used, or at least heard, a few oxymorons in your everyday life, even if you
didn't realize it at the time. Consider the common oxymorons and think about times they
may have been included in conversations you have had.
Oxymoron Examples A-C
There are oxymorons throughout the alphabet, from "a" to "z." There are quite a few in just
the first three letters.
 accidentally on purpose
 accurate estimate
 act naturally
 advanced beginner
 almost exactly
 alone together
 amazingly awful
 approximately equal
 bittersweet
 calculated risk
 climb down
 close distance
 consistently inconsistent
 conspicuous absence
 constant variable
 controlled chaos
 cool passion
 crash landing
 cruel kindness
Oxymoron Examples D-F
Oxymorons aren't limited to the first few letters of the alphabet. Keep going to discover
even more.
 dark light
 deafening silence
 deceptive honesty
 definite maybe
 definite possibility
 deliberate mistake
 devout agnostic
 disgustingly delicious
 divided unity
  double solitaire
 dull roar
 endless hour
 exact estimate
 fairly accurate
 fairly obvious
 final draft
 fine mess
 firm pillow
 found missing
 free love
 freezer burn
 friendly fire
 full-time hobby
Oxymoron Examples G-N
Are you still searching for the perfect oxymoron? There are plenty more to be discovered!
 genuine imitation
 going nowhere
 good grief
 growing smaller
 guest host
 hard cushion
 imperfect perfection
 joyful noise
 joyful sorrow
 jumbo shrimp
 larger half
 literal interpretation
 loosely sealed
 love-hate
 loud whisper
 minor crisis
 minor miracle
 mud bath
 natural makeup
Oxymoron Examples O-R
Is it starting to seem like there is an unlimited supply of oxymorons in the English language?
That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there are certainly more than just a few.
 old news
 only alternative
 only choice
 only option
 open secret
 open circuit
 organized mess
 original copy
  passive learning
 unbiased opinion
 painful beauty
 passive-aggressive
 passive worship
 plastic silverware
 pretty ugly
 quiet roar
 random order
 real knockoff
 real-life fairy tale
 rolling stop
Oxymoron Examples S-Z
Approaching the end of the alphabet, there are still more oxymorons to explore. It's really
interesting to see how this figure of speech finds its way into everyday communication.
 same difference
 serious fun
 seriously funny
 student teacher
 sweet misery
 silent scream
 small crowd
 terribly good
 terribly nice
 theoretical experience
 tragic comedy
 true myth
 unpopular celebrity
 virtual reality
 upward fall
 walking dead
 weirdly normal
 wise fool
 working vacation
 zero deficit
Oxymoron Examples in Sentences
Review the example sentences below to get a better sense of how oxymorons can be used
in sentences and dialogue. The sentences in this section feature oxymorons from the list
above.
 My brother's cooking is amazingly awful.
 I let out a silent scream when the teacher called on me to answer the one question
that I didn't know.
 The scholarship instructions state that I should submit an original copy of my essay.
 I asked Steve to go to the dance with me. He gave me a definite maybe.
 A small crowd seems to be gathering in the school gym.
 Climb down from there this instant!
  Just act naturally when you ask the superstar for an autograph.
 The takeout container was only loosely sealed, so there is a mess in the bag.
 My cousin and I have always had a love-hate relationship.
 This homemade ice cream is terribly good.
Oxymoron Examples in Literature and Songs
Authors and musicians often use oxymorons as a rhetorical device. For some real-world
examples of oxymorons in writing, review a few lines from literature and songs.
 "A terrible beauty is born," - from Easter 1916 by William Butler Yeats
 "All your perfect imperfections" - from All of Me by John Legend
 "And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true." - from Lancelot and Elaine by Alfred
Lord Tennyson
 "I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief." - from Essays of Elia by Charles Lamb
 "O loving hate."- from Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
 "Of melancholy merriment, to quote" - from Don Juan by Lord Byron
 "Parting is such sweet sorrow." - from Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare
 "We're busy doin' nothin' - from Busy Doing Nothing by Bing Crosby
Oxymorons in Sayings and Quotes
There are some well-known phrases and quotations that make use of oxymorons. Seeing
these oxymoron examples used in the context of sentences may provide a better idea of
how and why they're used. For some of these examples, the oxymorons are linked to two
phrases within the sentence rather than a single phrase.
 "Modern dancing is so old fashioned." - Samuel Goldwyn
 "I am a deeply superficial person." - Andy Warhol
 "No one goes to that restaurant anymore. It's always too crowded." - Yogi Berra
 "A joke is an extremely serious issue." - Winston Churchill
For even more examples of oxymorons in sentences, take a look at these examples of funny
oxymoron quotes.
Purpose of Oxymorons
Why use phrases that don't seem to make logical sense? They can enhance writing and
communication in a variety of ways, including by adding dramatic effect.
Dramatic Effect
Saying that a picture or a scene is "painfully beautiful" calls attention to the speaker and the
object of inquiry. Such a phrase shows that an object can have two different qualities at
once, making it a subject for study and analysis.
Adding Flavor to Speech
When someone says a phrase such as "clearly confused," the speaker is finding a new way
to describe that individual or object.
For Entertainment
Sometimes people aren't trying to make a profound statement when they use oxymorons.
Instead, they want to be witty and show they can use words to make people laugh. One
example of this is when Oscar Wilde comically reflected on the fact that he "can resist
anything, except temptation."
Pointedly Foolish for Literary Effect
Now you can see that oxymorons add humor or drama to speech or writing, allowing you to
make a funny or pointed remark. As well as playing with oxymorons, Oscar Wilde was also a
master of symbolism. He enjoyed writing things that weren't meant to be taken literally,
simply pondered upon. When you're ready to graduate from oxymorons to symbolism,
enjoy these examples of symbolism in literature. May they inspire you through all your
writing adventures.