What is an oxymoron?

An oxymoron is a phrase that combines two contradictory terms, like:

• “Jumbo shrimp”
• “Bittersweet”
• “Deafening silence”

📜 History: The term comes from the Greek words “oxys” (sharp) + “moros” (foolish), meaning “sharp foolishness.” Writers like Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde frequently used oxymorons to create humor and irony.

🤔 Trivia: The word “oxymoron” itself is an oxymoron because it combines contradictory ideas: “sharp” and “foolish”!