Oxymoronic

Pronunciation: /ˌɑksɪˈmɔrɑnɪk/

Definitions of oxymoronic

adjective describing a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction

Example Sentences

A1 The concept of 'jumbo shrimp' is oxymoronic because 'jumbo' means big and 'shrimp' means small.

A2 The idea of 'virtual reality' can be considered oxymoronic as 'virtual' implies something not real while 'reality' is the state of being real.

B1 The term 'deafening silence' is oxymoronic as 'deafening' suggests a loud noise while 'silence' means absence of sound.

B2 The politician's speech was described as oxymoronic because it promised both austerity measures and increased spending.

C1 The artist's work was praised for its oxymoronic combination of chaos and harmony.

C2 The author's use of oxymoronic language throughout the novel added depth and complexity to the characters and plot.

Examples of oxymoronic in a Sentence

formal The concept of 'jumbo shrimp' is often considered oxymoronic due to the contradictory nature of the words.

informal I always found it funny how 'act natural' sounds oxymoronic when you think about it.

slang It's so oxymoronic when someone says 'I'm pretty ugly' as a joke.

figurative Her bubbly personality combined with a dark sense of humor creates an oxymoronic charm.

Grammatical Forms of oxymoronic

• past tense: oxymoroned
• plural: oxymoronics
• comparative: more oxymoronic
• superlative: most oxymoronic
• present tense: oxymoronics
• future tense: will be oxymoronic
• perfect tense: have been oxymoronic
• continuous tense: is being oxymoronic
• singular: oxymoronic
• positive degree: oxymoronic
• infinitive: to oxymoron
• gerund: oxymoroning
• participle: oxymoronic

Origin and Evolution of oxymoronic

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'oxymoronic' originates from the combination of two Greek words: 'oxys' meaning sharp or keen, and 'moros' meaning foolish. The juxtaposition of these contrasting terms creates the concept of oxymoron, which is a figure of speech that combines contradictory or incongruous words.

Evolution of the word: The term 'oxymoronic' has evolved from its original use in rhetoric to describe a specific literary device to a more general adjective used to describe any contradictory or paradoxical statement or situation.