What Is an Oxymoron? | Definition & Examples

An oxymoron is a literary device that combines two seemingly contradictory words to form an often thought-provoking concept or idea (e.g., controlled chaos and silent scream).

The two words—which tend to be next to each other in the sentence—clash in a way that forces the reader to pause and reconsider the meaning, often discovering a nuanced and deeper meaning.

What is an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that places two contradictory, incongruous, or conflicting words next to each other in a sentence to create a nuanced concept (e.g., civil war, detailed summary).

The two examples above are oxymorons because, at their very core, the words contradict themselves; war is anything but civil, and a summary provides a general overview of something while excluding intricate details.

Oxymorons are often constructed using an adjective-noun combination (e.g., jumbo shrimp, open secret). However, they can be constructed using any play on words or figures of speech (e.g., act naturally).

What does oxymoron mean?

The word oxymoron comes from the Greek root words “oxys-” (which means “sharp”) and “-moros” (which means “foolish”). Combining these two words literally means “sharply foolish.” Ironically, the word “oxymoron” is an oxymoron itself.

Oxymorons challenge the reader to look past simple definitions and explore a more nuanced and complex meaning.

It’s worth noting that you can’t simply combine any two opposing or contradictory words and call them an oxymoron. For something to be an oxymoron, the two juxtaposed words must combine to create a new meaning or insight. In other words, the sum of its parts must be greater than the whole.

Oxymoron vs. paradox

An oxymoron and a paradox are similar in that they combine contradictory or opposing elements but differ in length.

• An oxymoron consists of two words that contradict themselves to reveal a deeper meaning (e.g., open secret). This is an oxymoron because, in this context, “open” can be understood to mean “not secret,” while “secret” means “private.” On a deeper level, the combination of these two words means “it’s supposed to be a secret, but everyone knows.”
• A paradox is a statement or elaborate idea that initially seems illogical but reveals a deeper truth. It’s defined by its contradictory nature or juxtaposition of ideas and often needs to be expressed using more than two words (e.g., “The only constant in life is change”). This is a paradox because the idea of something simultaneously remaining constant and changing is contradictory.

Oxymoron examples

Here is a list of oxymorons you may hear in everyday language.

Oxymoron examples in literature

Many famous literary works use oxymorons.

Frequently asked questions about oxymorons

What is an example of an oxymoron?

An example of an oxymoron is a “known secret.” Taken at face value, the two words contradict each other, but upon second thought, they combine to create a deeper meaning.

In this case, the deeper meaning is that something is supposed to be a secret, but everyone knows.

Scribbr’s Paraphrasing Tool can ensure you use the correct language to express your point effectively.

Can an oxymoron be unintentional?

Oxymorons tend to be intentional, but sometimes they are used unintentionally. “Act naturally” and “old news” are oxymorons that are sometimes used unintentionally.

Scribbr’s Paraphrasing Tool can ensure you use the correct language to express your point effectively.

What is the difference between a paradox and an oxymoron?

Paradoxes and oxymorons both involve contradictions, but there is a key difference:

• A paradox is a complete statement or scenario that seems self-contradictory but reveals a thought-provoking truth upon further examination (e.g., “The only constant in life is change”).
• An oxymoron is a figure of speech consisting of a short phrase that combines contradictory terms for rhetorical effect (e.g., “alone together”).