oxymoron (redirected from oxymoronically)

ox·y·mo·ron  (ks-môrn, -mr-)

n. pl. ox·y·mo·ra (-môr, -mr) or ox·y·mo·rons

A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist.

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[Greek oxumron, from neuter of oxumros, pointedly foolish : oxus, sharp; see oxygen + mros, foolish, dull.]

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oxy·mo·ronic (-m-rnk) adj.

oxy·mo·roni·cal·ly adv.

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oxymoron [ox-see-more-on]

Noun

a figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory terms, for example cruel kindness [Greek oxus sharp + mōros stupid]

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oxymoron

a rhetorical device or figure of speech in which contradictory or opposite words or concepts are combined for effect. — oxymoronic, adj.

See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

oxymoron - conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence') figure of speech, trope, image, figure - language used in a figurative or nonliteral sense