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What is meant by oxymoron?

An oxymoron is term used in literature and grammar to denote an instance where contradictory terms are combined to form phrases. An oxymoron combines an adjective with a noun and is often confused with pleonasm. Pleonasms are the opposite, or antonyms, of oxymora and are redundant terms placed together.

The word oxymoron is derived from the Greek language. The original Greek translation is “oxymoros.” “Oxy” meaning sharp or pointed and “moros” meaning dull or foolish. Combined, the roots form the word oxymoron meaning “pointedly dull” or “sharply foolish.”
Examples of a oxymoron:

    living dead
    big sip
    original copy
If something is living it can't be dead.


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