What are Oxymorons? (with 50 Examples)
- spencer655
- Apr 24
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 28
Oxymorons are one of those delightful language quirks that can make both students and teachers pause, chuckle, and think. Whether you’re teaching ELA, leading a vocabulary lesson, or just looking for a quick classroom brain teaser, oxymorons are a great way to introduce nuance and wordplay into your day.
Let’s explore what oxymorons are, how they differ from paradoxes, and review a wide range of fun examples your students will love.
What is an oxymoron?
An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two seemingly contradictory or opposite words are placed next to each other to create a new, often poetic or ironic, meaning.
It sounds confusing, but you hear them all the time:
“Jumbo shrimp”
“Bittersweet”
“Only choice”
“Living dead”
Oxymorons are more than just clever phrases — they reflect real-life situations where opposites coexist. They’re especially useful in literature, songwriting, and everyday speech to express complex ideas.
Is an oxymoron a paradox?
Not quite — though the two are closely related.
A paradox is a broader concept: a full sentence or idea that seems contradictory but reveals a deeper truth. For example:
“This is the beginning of the end.”
An oxymoron is a two-word (sometimes three-word) phrase with opposite meanings built right in:
“Deafening silence”
Here’s a quick comparison:
Feature | Oxymoron | Paradox |
Structure | 2–3 word phrase | Full sentence or idea |
Contradiction | In the words | In the logic |
Purpose | Style, irony, nuance | Deeper meaning, philosophical depth |
What are examples of oxymorons?
There are dozens of oxymorons that you and your students may hear every day without even noticing. Here’s a big list to help spark discussion or inspire writing exercises:
Common everyday oxymorons
Awfully good
Pretty ugly
Deafening silence
Clearly misunderstood
Alone together
Virtual reality
Passive-aggressive
Seriously funny
Living dead
Small crowd
Original copy
Act naturally
Open secret
Old news
Exact estimate
Literary and poetic oxymorons
“Sweet sorrow” (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)
“Cold fire”
“Wise fool”
“I must be cruel only to be kind” (Shakespeare, Hamlet)
“The sound of silence” (Simon & Garfunkel lyric)
“Dark light”
Funny and ironic oxymorons
Working vacation
Tight slacks
Same difference
Definite maybe
Pretty tough
Larger half
Unbiased opinion
Constant change
Freezer burn
Almost done
Passive resistance
Sanitary landfill
Oxymorons in tech and culture
Virtual reality
Exact replica
Artificial intelligence
Social distancing
User-friendly error
Old news
Jumbo shrimp
Civil war
Classroom activity idea:
Oxymoron Match-Up Game
Create a worksheet with a list of adjectives in one column and a list of nouns in another. Ask students to mix and match until they create oxymorons. Example:
“Bittersweet” from bitter + sweet
“Living dead” from living + dead
Or have them create their own from scratch and explain what the new phrase might mean.
Oxymorons are a fantastic entry point into deeper language concepts like irony, contrast, and figurative speech. Whether you’re teaching grammar, creative writing, or just sprinkling in a mini-lesson, they’re a great way to stretch student thinking — and get a few laughs while you’re at it.
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