Make Your Point > Archived Issues > OXYMORON

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connect today's word to others: You probably already know today's word, oxymoron, but let's explore it anyway and see how we can apply it more flexibly. In case you don't know: an oxymoron is a contrast in terms. It's a contradiction, or a self-conflicting phrase, like "heavy lightness" or "loving hate" or "waking sleep." "Oxymoron" looks like "oxygen" because the "oxy" part is Greek for "sharp" or "acid." We also see "oxy" in the word paroxysm. Could you explain what a paroxysm is? And why does that Greek root "oxy" belong in it? And, "oxymoron" looks like "moron" and "sophomore" because that "mor" part is Greek for "foolish" or "stupid." So, because oxymoron literally means a "sharp stupidity," it's one of those wonderful words that provides an example of what it is. "Oxymoron" is an oxymoron. Isn't that wonderful? And "Newspeak" is an example of Newspeak. And "neologism" is, relatively, an example of a neologism. Could you explain both of those terms, too? make your point with... "OXYMORON" This word has Greek roots that mean "a sharp stupidity." First, an oxymoron is a specific figure of speech. You say something that seems to contradict itself, like when Seneca wrote "mortibus vivimus" or "we live by the deaths of other things," and that's an oxymoron: a seemingly contradictory comment that helps you make a good point. But here's how we use the word "oxymoron" in regular conversation today. An oxymoron is a phrase or a statement that conflicts with itself or seems to conflict with itself, such as "clean coal" (because coal is dirty, so how can it be clean?) and "bare-faced makeup" (because if you're wearing makeup, how can you say you're going bare-faced?). Even more generally, an oxymoron can be something or someone that's odd or confusing because it has opposite or extremely different parts or aspects. Not everybody accepts this very loose meaning of "oxymoron," so if you like to be precise and proper with words, then don't use this meaning. Pronunciation: OCK see MORE on Part of speech: Countable noun. (Countable nouns, like "bottle," "piece," and "decision," are words for things that can be broken into exact units. You talk about "a bottle," "three pieces," and "many decisions." Likewise, talk about one oxymoron or multiple oxymorons.) Other forms: oxymoronic, oxymoronically How to use it: Talk about phrases, ideas, and people that are oxymorons or that seem like oxymorons. This word can be silly ("'Healthy buffet' is an oxymoron") as well as serious ("Affordable healthcare isn't necessarily an oxymoron"). To use the adjective, talk about oxymoronic claims, phrases, names, titles, descriptions, etc. examples: Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore introduced me to the wonderful oxymoron "festina lente," or "make haste slowly." It reminds me to balance my eagerness to complete projects with the care and meticulousness they deserve. I can't help but giggle when I see someone add that oxymoronic "Ph.D., ABD" to the end of their name. If your degree is complete "all but dissertation," then you've got a goal, not a degree. study it now: Look away from the screen to explain the definition in your own words. You’ll know you understand what "oxymoron" means when you can explain it without saying "discrepancy" or "opposing." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "You can be both _____ and _____; only a simpleton would call that an oxymoron." Example: "You can be both social and introverted; only a simpleton would call that an oxymoron." before you review: Spend at least 20 seconds occupying your mind with the game below. Then try the review questions. Don’t go straight to the review now—let your working memory empty out first. This month, we're playing with The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce. It's a collection of silly, sarcastic, satirical definitions of everyday words, and--lucky us!--it's in the public domain. In each issue this month, I'll give you one of Bierce's definitions and, if it's a tough one, I'll give you the word's first letter. And you try to come up with the word. From our previous issue: Bierce defines it as "an interior convulsion, producing a distortion of the features and accompanied by inarticulate noises. It is infectious and, though intermittent, incurable." It's a noun. What is it? Answer: Laughter. Try this today: Bierce defines it as "a person whom we know well enough to borrow from, but not well enough to lend to. A degree of friendship called slight when its object is poor or obscure, and intimate when he is rich or famous." It's a noun. It starts with A. What is it? review today's word: 1. A close opposite of OXYMORON is A. GENIUS B. COHERENCE C. ASPHYXIATION 2. He strikes us as an oxymoron: _____. A. eager to prove himself, but lacking in tact B. admirably mature about his own immaturity C. too inclined to talk and not inclined enough to listen Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. B 2. B