oxymoron
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++ox·y·mo·ron /ˌɒksiˈmɔːrɒn $ ˌɑːksiˈmɔːrɑːn/ noun [countable] technical SLa deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as ‘cruel kindness’ 矛盾修辞法，逆喻〔如“残酷的仁慈”〕
Examples from the Corpus
oxymoron• This verbal combo is an oxymoron, of course, given all we know about the innately hazardous properties of nicotine.• Compassionate capitalism is not an oxymoron.• New public art outside of the gallery is something of an oxymoron since ironically most art collections are public.• Thursday evening, the work prompted an instant trip to the depths of oxymoron.• Bear with me while I unravel this seeming oxymoron.Origin oxymoron (1600-1700) Greek oxys “sharp” + moros “stupid”ox·y·mo·ron nounChineseSyllable
of words deliberate Corpus a that combination two
oxymoron
ox‧y‧mo‧ron /ˌɒksiˈmɔːrɒn $ ˌɑːksiˈmɔːrɑːn/
noun [countable] technical
ox‧y‧mo‧ron /ˌɒksiˈmɔːrɒn $ ˌɑːksiˈmɔːrɑːn/
noun [countable] technical Date: 1600-1700
Language: Greek
Origin: oxys 'sharp' + moros 'stupid'
a deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as ‘cruel kindness’
Language: Greek
Origin: oxys 'sharp' + moros 'stupid'