Oxymoron

What is an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that places contradictory terms next to each other in a word or phrase.

• True

• False

• No idea

As a literary device, oxymoron is used to make certain word combinations more thought-provoking to stand out. 

• True

• False

• No idea

What is the purpose of oxymorons? 

As with other literary devices like metaphor, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole, oxymorons have a few different purposes in writing.

• True

• False

• No idea

The purposes of oxymorons are _____.

• Dramatic effect

• Entertainment

• Present words in a new way

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

The main difference between an oxymoron and a paradox is that oxymorons use contradictory words whereas paradoxes use contradictory ideas.

• True

• False

• No idea

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

An oxymoron is usually just two words (sometimes one, as in “bittersweet”), but a paradox is an entire statement, usually a standalone sentence or even a full paragraph.

• True

• False

• No idea

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

By extension, oxymorons deal with the contrast between the meanings of words, but paradoxes focus on the contrast between complete ideas.

• True

• False

• No idea

What is the difference between oxymoron and paradox?

The scope of a paradox can go much deeper, drawing on complicated themes and philosophical concepts. The scope of oxymorons, however, is limited only to the scope of the individual words used. 

• True

• False

• No idea

Which is an example of oxymoron in the following passage?

He’s a strange, sleepy, silent person. He’s an unpopular celebrity, if you know what I mean. I wouldn’t recommend that you watch his show, not for a million bucks!

• strange, sleepy, silent

• unpopular celebrity

• if you know what I mean

Which of the following is an example of oxymoron?

• never ever ever

• totally not

• definitely maybe