What is an Oxymoron? - Oxymorons are Fun! Examples!
80Etyomology of Oxymoron: Did you know this?
Interestingly, the word "oxymoron" is an oxymoron in itself, "oxy" meaning "sharp" and "moron" meaning "dull." That's a cool fact.
Definition of Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a combination of two contradictory words. In the sentence, “That young man is awfully nice,” “awfully nice” is the oxymoron. When I was introduced to oxymorons in high school, I fell in love with them. In this article, I’ll list examples of some common oxymorons, humorous—or sarcastic—ones, as well as my own made-up oxymorons! Have fun with oxymorons. Maybe you can come up with your own.
Example of Oxymoron
A Story with Examples of Oxymorons
Instead of a list, how about a little story with the opposites underlined….
Ah, parting is such sweet sorrow, said Romeo to Juliet, in what turned out to be a pretty ugly scene in the tragic comedy I was reading. Same difference, said Juliet, as her demeanor matched that of the living dead. Good grief, she exclaimed, I’m going to try to act naturally. His bittersweet love is old news and is often found missing in him. Since she was awfully nice, she felt that her intentions were often clearly misunderstood.
I wondered if this edition of the play was the original copy. As it was a definite possibility, I was terribly pleased. Tired of reading, I went to my favorite restaurant where a small crowd had gathered. I ordered my favorite entrée of jumbo shrimp and sweet and sour pork. The serving was a little big for me, but I found it to be a guilty pleasure.
Funny or Sarcastic Oxymorons
Some sarcastic or cynical oxymorons that you may have heard include “military intelligence” and “honest attorney.” These contradictory words form phrases that make a point, as in truths that can’t be. Is there such a thing as intelligence in the military? Is an attorney ever honest? Along these lines, some also believe that “religious tolerance” is an oxymoron, as well as “business ethics.”
Another perspective: Monday is Magnificent by Sunshine
- Monday is Magnificent
Most people don't like Monday. I thought it needed a shout-out because in reality Monday serves a purpose, without it we'd never get to Friday!
My Own Favorite Oxymorons
I call “Happy Monday” an oxymoron, although my friend, Sunshine, would disagree. Please read this sunny lady’s hub.
“Good morning” is also an oxymoron in my vocabulary. I am not a morning person, and thus mornings are not good in my book. When people say "Good morning" to me, I tell them that I’ll agree with the second part. Yes, it IS morning. I'll give them that.
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Fun stuff. :) I do understand about that morning thing!
These aren't two-word oxymorons, but sometimes it's all about saying what you mean in context: The transition will alter nothing. We will be remain steadfast in spite of equivocation on the revisions. The emendation will have no impact.
And here is a jewel from a medical professional: This medication has no effect on your breathing. All it does is help you breath easier.
It just makes you want to shout, "Aren't words interesting?" :)
This is awfully funny! :P LOL! Thank you for the laughing fit. An oxymoron are commonly used in almost every language. Which I guess is why there are now so many different definitions for words nowadays. LOL! Voted up! Useful, funny and awesome! :)
Finally an article not replete with wrong facts!
What a fun article Victoria Lynn! We do use oxymorons every day in our conversations. Most of the time we just don't notice it. How many oxymorons can you count: "I am constantly looking for a change, so I joined the HubPages community. I learned that each article is the same difference. The site is user friendly and no Hubber is alone in the crowd. We are all unique, just like everyone else!"
This was seriously funny. Have you ever heard that Hitler was a nazimoron?
Thanks, Ardie! You're awfully cool!
RTalloni--You're funny. Your sentence examples were great. I think that language is fascinating!
Oxymorons are hilarious!
Cags! Thanks for the great comments and votes. Oxymorons are a funny thing, aren't they? Love 'em!
I love oxymorons --Jumbo shrimp! Fun hub!
Amazingly awesome!!! I love this HUB! I love oxymorons! You are my favorite grammar geek ever!! Thank you for the link!:)
"Wrong facts!" Good one, TrahnMan!
Thanks for these Victoria, I hated to love them!! but had a good laugh and voted up.
Hmmmm, Turtlewoman...a constant change, huh? :-) Same difference. User friendly? I've always wondered about that one. Alone in the crowd, all unique, everyone else. haha. Loved your comments! Very creative!
No, Rochelle. I haven't heard about the nazimoron. That's too funny!
ChelseaCharleston--I agree! Hilarious!
Audrey--Thanks for the comments. It was a fun hub to write, too!
A great hub for writers. Voting this Up and Interesting.
Yay, Sunshine! I'm so glad you approve. I immediately thought about doing a link to your Monday hub when I started thinking about oxymorons. You're awesome. And I hope I'm always your favorite grammar geek!
Wow, super hub, very clever. Voted up :)
I love oxymorons! Very funny and super clever hub!
I can't think of a single one right now! It will be like one of those times when your on the phone with someone and can't remember what you were going to say until you hang up! Lol. Soon as I make my exit I'll be "smacked good" in the face with one!
Carter06--Glad you hated to love them. haha. :-)
alocsin--Glad you think so. Thanks for the votes!
Thanks, Arren123! Glad you think so!
Hi, I love oxymorons too! good morning is a favorite of mine as I hate mornings! who ever invented them? lol! pretty ugly, has always got me saying, oxymoron! at the top of my voice, along with light weight! haha! great stuff, cheers nell
Realhousewife--Have you thought of some fave oxymorons yet? haha. Thanks for the great comments. True about relating it to thinking of something to say on the phone....:-)
Nell--light weight is a go0d one! Good morning is about my favorite, though! :-)
Was your example above a true story? It had me thinking out loud! This Hub was seriously funny! Voted up.
No, dosborne, I just made up the story for an example. No true story there. I'm glad you thought it was funny. I consider that a great compliment. Thanks for the vote, too!
Great examples, especially your humorous story. The word "oxymoron" itself is an oxymoron -- coming from the Greek words for "sharp" (oxys) and "stupid" (moros) and meaning "pointedly foolish." No, I'm not "oxys" enough to have known that -- your hub made me curious, and I looked it up! Voted up, interesting, and funny.
Thanks for reminding me, V.L., how seriously funny some oxymorons can be. It's old news to me but sometimes our only choice that almost exactly describes what we are writing. Signed, Clearly Confused.
Great hub. You made me remember the english class when we learned figures of speech. Simile was my favourite. Oxymoron was real fun to read. I liked the extra words you compiled. And I completely agree with the last one- "Good Morning" is definitely an oxymoron I hear every morning. :(
brianlokker--Awesome comments! that reminded me that I was going to look up oxymoron to see if it was indeed an oxymoron! You stole my thunder--haha. I may have to revise already. Thanks so much!
Victoria - I didn't! And I tried! I think it is one of those things that you can't do under pressure unless you studied:) lol
drbj--You are too funny! Seriously funny! Old news! Only choice! Almost exactly! Clearly confused! Did I get them all?
ContentThreads--Great comments. Maybe I'll write a hub just for you about similes!
That's okay, RealHousewife--Pressure does crazy things to our minds. haha
Oxymorons were my favorite in school. Have not tried them lately though.
Thanks for the reminder Victoria. Voted up as useful
Fabulous hub and so enjoyable! You put a smile in my day.
I've always loved oxymorons, too, Ruchira! Thanks for the vote!
Victoria: Oo. I would love to read that. Glad that will be a good revision. So sweet of you :)
teaches--Thanks for the compliment. Glad the hub was enjoyable and made you smile. That's cool!
How about the product Icy Hot. Way too cool, don't you think. Also, it's often said that FBI is one. Who in the FB is intelligent? How about police security? There was an incident in my life where the local polic jepordized my security. Ouch! I order my steak medium well done. If it's well done, it's well done. It can't be medium and be well at the same time. Isn't that like being a little bit pregnant? Than there's deafening silence. You've probably heard that one before. And when was the last time you heard a quiet storm. How about weeping willow? Can that be one also, or am I stretching it? The English language is like a light with a dimmer switch. You can turn it up or down to suit your needs. I've got a couple more in my head, but I can't spit them out just now. Thumbs up!
ContentThreads--I made a note to write about similes....Give me some time....:-)
I enjoyed this hub, very funny. When I was a kid we had a great aunt who used to refer to people as “horrid pretty”. We thought it was hilarious, even though we said “terribly pretty” ourselves!
Specialist5--IcyHot is a great example! I like deafening silence, too. You have some good ones, but you may be stretching it on the weeping willow! haha. I LOVE the English language, don't you? Thanks for the thumbs up. Much appreciated!
Horrid pretty? haha. But you're right in that it's similar to "terribly pretty," so....Thanks for reading. Glad you thought it was funny. I think oxymorons are funny and fun!!!
Hi, How about the opposite of terribly pretty. When I was young we used to say pretty ugly. Ouch!
I've said pretty ugly, too, Specialist5!
"honest politician"?
Yeah, perfect, PDX!!!
Oxymoron is a new term for me. Thanks for writing and share with us. I learn new things from you. Thank you very much and rated up!
Blessing,
I'm glad this hub taught you something new, prasetio! I love hearing that. Thanks for the vote. And you're welcome!
I too love oxymorons. Great hub!
Cool, homesteadbound. If you can write one to complement it, please do so!
This was a fun little hub to read. I've never seen so many oxymorons together like this. Great topic. Voting up and away.
Pamela--I'm glad you thought it was fun to read. I didn't want to write some ole boring grammar hub. haha. Thanks so much for the comment and votes!
Up and funny. These actually make interesting English classes and you can see the foreign students really trying to get their heads around the meanings lol.
Thanks for SHARING.
This hub bring me back to my highschool days :) I use to love this during our English class. Thanks for reminding me of how much fun I used to have.
Hehe, this is awesome! I'm really liking all these "grammatically literary" hubs. (-- Um, that's not an oxymoron.) Voted up, funny and SHARING.
True, Brett. I bet foreign students have a tough time with oxymorons. The English language is often very strange. Thanks for commenting, voting, and SHARING!
Your little story was an eye-opener about how we don't always think very much about what we say or read, or write for that matter. So many oxymorons have become familiar cliches that when you hear them spoken or skim through a reading of them, you hardly notice. Up, useful, and funny. "Refreshing" would be a good choice if we had that rating option. :)
cebutouristspot--I loved oxymorons in high school English class, too. That's where I fell in love with them. Thanks for the great comment.
Thanks Victoria Lynn, Nice and sweet. What does the prefix oxy really mean any way?
There is a wonderful scene in the movie "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" where the boy and his dad spar and shout out their favorite oxymorons. I love words (puns are my favorite) and this is a clever, interesting hub. Rated up! Steph
Thanks cclitgirl. That's great coming from you since you write some great grammar hubs, too! Thanks for the votes and for sharing!
True, Sally's Trove. Oxymorons become a part of our vocabulary. Thanks for the "refreshing" vote. I like that one! ("Delicious" is one I've wanted to add for recipes that I read.) I appreciate your comments very much.
Reginald, I just added the meaning of the word to my hub, as another person commented on that, too. Oxy means "sharp," while moron means "dull," so the word itself is an oxymoron. Cool, huh?
Great hub. Totally loved reading it. I must admit I had never heard of oxymorons till now. I always say we learn something new on hubpages everyday and your hub is a testimony to new discoveries and added knowledge. I can only say I am frightfully pleased that I have chanced upon this strangely awesome part of english grammar as a result of your wickedly amazing hub! I am terribly glad that I can only confess with shameful pride that I am now an oxymoron at heart! Sharp and dull, what a dynamite combo.
Steph--I should see that movie just for that scene. I would love that! I love puns, too! There's a hubber on here who writes a lot about puns. Can't think of his name right now, darn it. I need to find him again. Thanks for the comments and vote! I like your compliment of "clever."
Thanks Victoria Lynn, that'll be my vocabulary word for today, I know right . . . . way cool :)
I have to share this headline from the feature section of our local paper today: "Is British cuisine an oxymoron?" The answer, thankfully for U.K. readers: "Not for author who traveled the U.K. for traditional recipes." (Article by Vicki Hyman, (NJ) Star-Ledger)
PK2010--I'm glad I could introduce you to oxymorons! I love learning on HubPages. haha--I love all your oxymoronic descriptions! You've got it!
Awesome, Reginald. You're cool!
Ha, Brian, that's interesting! :-)
this is really great..I am familiar with the word "Oxymoron" but it even makes sense to me even better.. great Victoria Lynn:) and oh I have to add that this is an even new knowledge to me..this is terribly fun haha. Love it Lynn :)
ACV--Terribly fun, yes! Oxymorons are addictive, aren't they, because they are so fun! So flad you enjoyed the hub! :-)
Bearcat (which is related to neither the bear nor the cat)
?
Yeah, PDX, what do we do with "bearcat"? Why are those together even? I'm with you on this one. One big question mark! ??? heehee :-)
Victoria...This was terribly good! :)
Oh, my--how funny. I, too, am a fan of oxymorons, and have to agree that "military intelligence" is among the best of the worst.
And that "morning" thing--I'm with you there--someone sing-songing "gooooood morrrrniiinnggg" to me is liable to get told, "Yeah, it's morning--what's good about that?"
Make my guilty pleasure in chocolate, please!
Voted up, funny, useful, awesome and shared!
Loved this hub. Oxymorons are frightfully funny! Voted up.
Not only are your oxymorons great but I love the way you introduced with the Romeo and Juliet story leading to your going to dinner. Being a comedy fan I've often heard of the fine mess comedians get themselves into and I know I'm sometimes a little big for my britches ;) I hope I don't have any calculated errors! Voted up. Thanks for SHARING.
haha, Sunnie Day! That was a wickedly good comment!
DzyMsLizzy--Glad you like the hub! that's great, coming from you. I hear ya on your comment about morning. My guilty pleasure is chocolate, too! Love your comments and votes!
Hi, again, Victoria--now that it's no longer before noon, I have remembered one of the worst oxymorons ever heard. The pre-takeoff safety lecture aboard an airplane: "In the event of a water landing..." UH....this is not a seaplane, and that's not a LANDING--it's a crash!
I agree, Cyndi! Love oxymorons! Frightfully funny--haha. Thanks for the vote!
Calculated errors! Love that one, tillsontitan!Glad you liked the Romeo and Juliet story. It was fun to put together. :-)
Yeah, good one, DzyMsLizzy. A crash landing is not a landing! haha Love it!Thanks for coming back!
What a great, fun, light-hearted hub Victoria! I loved learning about this many moons ago. I am also nocturnal, so I prefer good evening. I like finding life situations that fit the rule. I remember reading a sign in college that said handicapped accessible bathroom on the second floor accompanied by the wheelchair picture and an arrow pointing to the stairs.
Moms-Secret--First of all, I'm glad you realized you weren't following me and went ahead and did. Yes, we did connect over our losses, and I'm glad you found me again. I'm glad you liked this hub. It was fun to right. You've gotta be kidding about the handicapped sign. That is tooooo funny! Thanks for sharing that!
In their defense, they did have an elevator near by but they chose to put the sign by the stairs. I never understood that. I started to wonder if that was the 'college' for me. Lol...
Yeah, Moms-Secret, I just don't understand why people do what they do sometimes. Especially a college like that. Thanks for revisiting! :-)
I enjoyed your witty little Hub. You pointed out many oxymorons in everyday use that we rarely stop to think about. Well done! Thanks for the good read. :-)
Thanks, James! I love that you called the hub "witty." I love oxymorons--gld you appreciated them, too.
victoria, let's figure it out!
Oxymorons are great, some of them are quite funny and some we use so often that we don't even think about it! Great hub pointing some out. Love the clean dirt, I chuckle every time I see a sign for it :)
PDX, you're too funny! I'd love to figure out the "bearcat" thing!
Yeah, Dawn, what the heck is clean dirt? As opposed to "dirty dirt"? haha. Thanks for the comment.
terribly interesting (!) article on oxymorons - thank you
Purple Jubilee--"terribly interesting"--Good one, thanks!
i just noticed the definition of the word "oxymoron" That's awesome!
Yeah, PDX, I added that later when someone made a comment about the meaning of the word. I had thought about putting the meaning in there earlier but forgot. I thought it was a neat addition. Glad you noticed!
Ardie Level 8 Commenter 3 months ago
The opening was awfully beautiful :) You wrote about my favorite word! Great Hub Victoria Lynn.