What Is an Oxymoron? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two seemingly contradictory or opposite ideas to create a certain rhetorical or poetic effect and reveal a deeper truth. Generally, the ideas will come as two separate words placed side by side.

What does it mean when something is an oxymoron?

Full Definition of oxymoron

: a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (such as cruel kindness) broadly : something (such as a concept) that is made up of contradictory or incongruous elements.

What is oxymoron and give example?

Oxymorons are oppositional words joined to create a unique word or phrase. ... For example, the phrase “virtual reality” is formed from contrasting words. The word “oxymoron” is an oxymoron itself, derived from the Greek words “oxys” (meaning “sharp”) and “moros” (meaning “dull”).