An oxymoron (noun) is a combination of two contradictory, incompatible or opposite words.
Examples:
♦ friendly fire (a military term / euphemism referring to the accidental firing towards one's own troops instead of the enemy)
♦ a deafening silence
♦ bitter-sweet
♦ act naturally
♦ open secret
♦ old news
The term oxymoron is often used in a humorous or cynical way – for example with reference to terms such as:
♦ military intelligence
♦ an honest politician
♦ wedded bliss
♦ airline schedule
The plural of oxymoron is oxymorons or oxymora.
Image © Linda Tanner
About Angela Boothroyd
Recent comments