Oxymoron
Literary term · say it ok-see-MOR-on
An oxymoron is a short expression that places contradictory words together, such as a deafening silence. The clash can capture mixed feelings, describe something strange, or make a reader pause over an idea.
Where oxymoron shows up
Mixed feelings
Contradictory words can express two feelings that exist at the same time. Something painful may also bring pleasure.
In the balcony scene of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet describes saying goodbye to Romeo in terms that join sweetness with sadness. She wants to keep saying farewell rather than let him leave.
In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
Impossible descriptions
Words with clashing meanings can describe something that seems beyond ordinary experience. The contradiction asks the reader to imagine what would normally be impossible.
In the opening description of Hell in Paradise Lost, the flames provide no ordinary light, and darkness itself seems visible. This contradiction helps convey the terrible place where Satan and the fallen angels lie.
In Paradise Lost by John Milton
How to spot an oxymoron
- Look for a short phrase whose words seem to contradict each other.
- Check whether the opposing meanings describe the same thing.
- Ask what feeling or idea the contradiction helps express.
What is the difference between an oxymoron and a paradox?
An oxymoron brings contradictory words together in a short expression, while a paradox usually presents a whole statement or situation that seems self-contradictory. Both can reveal a meaning that becomes clearer after a little thought.
Is every pair of opposite words an oxymoron?
No, opposite words form an oxymoron only when they work together as one apparently contradictory expression. Simply listing hot and cold names a contrast; describing a welcome as coldly warm would bring the opposing qualities into a single description.
Related terms
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