oxymoron

oxymoron Definition

oxy·mo·ron (äk′si môr′än′)

noun pl. oxymora -·mo′ra (-rə)

a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined (Ex.: thunderous silence, sweet sorrow)

Etymology: LGr oxymōron < neut. of oxymōros, acutely silly: see oxy- & moron

Related Forms:

oxymoron Usage Examples

Converse of object

become: Over the past two decades the trendy sociologist stopped being a cliché and became an oxymoron.

Browse dictionary entries near oxymoron