oxymoron
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ox·y·mo·ron
(ŏk′sē-môr′ŏn′)n. pl. ox·y·mo·rons or ox·y·mo·ra (-môr′ə)
A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.
[Greek (attested only in Latin sources) oxumōron, an expression that is witty because paradoxical, from neuter of *oxumōros, pointedly foolish : Greek oxus, sharp, keen; see oxygen + mōros, dull, foolish.]
ox′y·mo·ron′ic (-mə-rŏn′ĭk) adj.
ox′y·mo·ron′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
oxymoron
(ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn)n, pl -mora (-ˈmɔːrə)
(Literary & Literary Critical Terms) rhetoric an epigrammatic effect, by which contradictory terms are used in conjunction: living death; fiend angelical.
[C17: via New Latin from Greek oxumōron, from oxus sharp + mōros stupid]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ox•y•mo•ron
(ˌɒk sɪˈmɔr ɒn, -ˈmoʊr-)n., pl. -mo•ra (-ˈmɔr ə, -ˈmoʊr ə)
a figure of speech that uses seeming contradictions, as “cruel kindness” or “to make haste slowly.”
[1650–60; < Late Greek oxýmōron, neuter of Greek oxýmōros pointedly foolish =oxý- oxy-1 + mōrós dull (see moron)]
ox•y•mo•ron•ic (ˌɒk si məˈrɒn ɪk) adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
oxymoron
a rhetorical device or figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite words or concepts are combined for effect. — oxymoronic, adj.
See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
oxymoron
1. The use of contradictory terms together to create an effect, such as in ”sweet conqueror.”
2. A statement combining two conflicting terms for effect.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
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| Noun | 1. |  oxymoron - conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence') |
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Translations
oxymóron
oksymoron
refhvörf
oxymorum
oxímoro
oximoron
oxymorón
oxymoronsjälvmotsägelse
oksimoron
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
oxymoron
n → Oxymoron nt
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007