Definition of OXYMORON

oxymoron

Plural: oxymora, oxymorons

Noun

  • A figure of speech combining contradictory terms.
  • conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence')
  • A figure of speech in which two words or phrases with opposing meanings are used together intentionally for effect.
  • A contradiction in terms.

Examples

  • His ’strategically lucky’ play was an OXYMORON, but it won him the Words With Friends game.

Origin / Etymology

First attested in the 17th century, noun use of 5th century Latin oxymōrum (adjective), neut. nom. form of oxymōrus (adjective), from Ancient Greek ὀξύμωρος (oxúmōros), compound of ὀξύς (oxús, “sharp, keen, pointed”) (English oxy-, as in oxygen) + μωρός (mōrós, “dull, stupid, foolish”) (English moron (“stupid person”)). Literally "sharp-dull", "keen-stupid", or "pointed-foolish" – itself an oxymoron, hence autological; compare sophomore (literally “wise fool”), influenced by similar analysis. The compound form ὀξύμωρον (oxúmōron) is not found in the extant Ancient Greek sources.

Antonyms

pleonasm, redundancy

Scrabble Score: 20

oxymoron: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
oxymoron: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
oxymoron: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 21

oxymoron: valid Words With Friends Word