{"id":4255,"date":"2012-06-27T09:55:19","date_gmt":"2012-06-27T01:55:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/?p=4255"},"modified":"2025-04-02T09:22:19","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T09:22:19","slug":"64-examples-of-oxymorons-in-sentences","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/64-examples-of-oxymorons-in-sentences\/","title":{"rendered":"64 Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Oxymoron<\/a><\/p>\n

Oxymorons are figures of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined in order to create\u00a0a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. The word\u00a0oxymoron\u00a0is derived from the Greek for\u00a0pointedly foolish\u00a0(oxys = sharp\/keen and moros = foolish). Oxymorons are\u00a0extremely useful in written English because they can\u00a0make effective titles, add dramatic effect, add flavor to speech, and can sometimes be used to achieve a comedic effect.<\/p>\n

Here is a comprehensive list of 64 examples of oxymorons in sentences. In each example, the oxymoron is underlined.<\/p>\n

Before you start, if you’re looking for a super simple guide to literary devices, take a look at our\u00a0Figurative Language for Kids<\/a><\/p>\n

Do you need help refining your written English? Take a look at our proofreading services<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Examples of Oxymorons in Sentences<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. This is another fine mess<\/span> you have got us into.<\/li>\n
  2. There is a real love hate<\/span> relationship developing between the two of them.<\/li>\n
  3. Suddenly the room filled with a deafening silence<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  4. The comedian was seriously funny<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  5. You are clearly confused<\/span> by the situation you have found yourself in.<\/li>\n
  6. Her singing was enough to raise the living dead<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  7. Do you have the original copies<\/span> that we requested?<\/li>\n
  8. This is a genuine imitation<\/span> Rolex watch.<\/li>\n
  9. I really would like to try that new jumbo shrimp<\/span> restaurant.<\/li>\n
  10. His new girlfriend really is pretty ugly<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  11. Sorry, I can’t help you out right now, I am involved in my own minor crisis<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  12. Give me the fifty dollars you owe me or pay for dinner, it’s the same difference<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  13. My trip to Bali was very much a working holiday<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  14. I let out a silent scream<\/span> as the cat walked through the door carrying a dead bird.<\/li>\n
  15. You are going to have to use proofreading services,\u00a0it is your only choice<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  16. The seventies was the era of free love<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  17. I will ask the professor for his unbiased opinion<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  18. The constant variable<\/span> is the one that does not change.<\/li>\n
  19. The sermon lasted for an\u00a0endless hour<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  20. We laughed and cried through the\u00a0tragic comedy.<\/span><\/li>\n
  21. Parting is such\u00a0sweet sorrow.<\/span><\/li>\n
  22. They couldn’t wait to get out\u00a0alone together.<\/span><\/li>\n
  23. We’ll use plastic glasses<\/span> at the picnic.<\/li>\n
  24. The\u00a0student teacher<\/span>\u00a0explained how to complete dissertation editing.<\/li>\n
  25. The gossip is old news.<\/span><\/li>\n
  26. The lady he eventually married is painfully beautiful<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  27. Wow! This ice cream is disgustingly delicious<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  28. Be careful in the playground, run slowly<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  29. Your apple pie is awfully good<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  30. A small crowd<\/span> gathered to watch the concert.<\/li>\n
  31. It’s an open secret<\/span> that they have been having an affair for the past six months.<\/li>\n
  32. He has a real passive aggressive<\/span> personality.<\/li>\n
  33. You were awfully lucky<\/span> to escape the car crash unscathed.<\/li>\n
  34. Stop being a big baby<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  35. I am sure I am growing smaller<\/span> as I get older.<\/li>\n
  36. She is my least favorite<\/span> relation.<\/li>\n
  37. The story was based on the concept of \u00a0a true myth<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  38. That is an example of the typically weird<\/span> behavior she continually demonstrates.<\/li>\n
  39. He has become an extremely unpopular celebrity<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  40. I’m on a heavy diet<\/span> until my wedding day.<\/li>\n
  41. I am a deeply superficial<\/span> person.<\/li>\n
  42. I like a smuggler. He is the only honest thief<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  43. Good grief<\/span>, we’re really late.<\/li>\n
  44. I can’t make any promises but it’s a definite possibility<\/span>.<\/li>\n
  45. She was terribly pleased<\/span> with her Birthday present.<\/li>\n
  46. The army returned friendly fire<\/span> as the enemy approached.<\/li>\n
  47. He installed the new wireless cable<\/span> in the television room.<\/li>\n
  48. He was forced to stand down<\/span> from his position as president.<\/li>\n
  49. There will be zero tolerance<\/span> in the future.<\/li>\n
  50. I had no choice<\/span> but to do what I was told.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Looking for simile examples? Check out\u00a0101 Examples of Similes in Sentences<\/a><\/p>\n

    Funny, Sarcastic and Cynical Oxymorons:<\/h3>\n
      \n
    1. Microsoft Works<\/li>\n
    2. Military intelligence<\/li>\n
    3. Government organization<\/li>\n
    4. American history<\/li>\n
    5. Business ethics<\/li>\n
    6. Butt Head<\/li>\n
    7. Temporary tax increase<\/li>\n
    8. Twelve-ounce pound cake<\/li>\n
    9. Express Mail<\/li>\n
    10. Marital bliss<\/li>\n
    11. Congressional ethics<\/li>\n
    12. Airline Food<\/li>\n
    13. President Bush<\/li>\n
    14. Peace Keeper Missile<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Can you think of any examples of oxymorons in sentences? Leave a comment and share them with us all.<\/p>\n

      For more figurative language examples, see our guide to onomatopoeia<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Oxymorons are figures of speech in which two contradictory terms are combined in order to create\u00a0a rhetorical effect by paradoxical means. The word\u00a0oxymoron\u00a0is derived from the Greek for\u00a0pointedly foolish\u00a0(oxys = sharp\/keen and moros = foolish). Oxymorons are\u00a0extremely useful in written English because they can\u00a0make effective titles, add dramatic effect, add flavor to speech, and can … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4258,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-grammar-guides"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4255"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10323,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4255\/revisions\/10323"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.vappingo.com\/word-blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}