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Before we go straight to the examples, let’s figure out what an oxymoron is first. So, let’s begin with the name and its origins. The term oxymorum was first recorded a while back by a dude named Maurus Servius Honoratus, who lived around 400 AD. The term itself is derived from the Greek word oksus, meaning sharp, keen, pointed and moros meaning dull, stupid, or foolish. So, sharp-dull, keenly stupid, or pointedly foolish; your choice. What’s even more fun is that the word oxymoron is autological, which is a fancy term for saying that it is itself an example of an oxymoron.

Okay, with our short history lesson done, we should probably figure out when is the right time to use such a beautiful figure of speech (such a poetic term, isn’t it?). So, the most proper occasion to use an oxymoron would be when you want to create a self-contradiction or reveal a paradox. Here’s an oxymoron example that would work beautifully on such an occasion - absent presence. However, although an oxymoron sounds like it’s reserved to be used by scholars only, it is, in fact, used daily by pretty much every one of us. Think of declaring something to be awfully good or when your colleagues clearly misunderstand what you are saying to them. See? With just a few examples of an oxymoron, we’ve figured out that it is actually known and used by us daily!

Now we’ve talked about oxymoron definitions and examples, and it is probably time to check out the full list below. Lots of interesting words, and even more awesome combinations! Show this precious figure of speech some love by upvoting your favorite submissions and share this article with your friends!

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#1

130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Comfortable misery

Meaning: When you are miserable but you are used to it.

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LizzieBoredom
LizzieBoredom
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or as my cat describes it 'Not having Rotisserie Chicken and forced to eat like a peasant cat".

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    #2

    Passive-aggressive

    Meaning: A pattern of indirectly expressing negative feelings instead of openly addressing them.

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    #3

    Found missing

    Meaning: Something or someone was discovered to be missing.

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    #4

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Wise fool

    Meaning: A form of literary paradox in which through a narrative a character recognized as a fool comes to be seen as a beholder of wisdom.

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    LizzieBoredom
    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a great, old movie called 'Being There' with Peter Sellers about a wise fool.

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    #5

    Open secret

    Meaning: A supposed secret that is in fact known to many people.

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    #6

    Alone together

    Meaning: Two people are together with no one else present.

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    #7

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Good grief

    Meaning: Used to express surprise or annoyance.

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    #8

    Work vacation

    Meaning: Work remotely while doing the touristy things on weekend or after work.

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    #9

    Resident alien

    Meaning: A person who is a U.S. citizen or a foreign national who meets either the “green card” or “substantial presence” test.

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    woomysharona avatar
    Random Dent
    Random Dent
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or is an actual alien from another planet posing as a human doctor

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    #10

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Controlled chaos

    Meaning: A state or situation that appears to be completely disorganised, but where some things are under control.

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    #11

    Absent presence

    Meaning: Someone banishes another socially from an event – essentially ignoring them as if they were absent even though they are present.

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    LizzieBoredom
    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or giving someone your "thoughts and prayers" in lieu of an actual donation.

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    #12

    Cheerful pessimist

    Meaning: one who accepts the brutal, harsh facts of life, and is prepared to accept that people, no matter how talented or how great, will always disappoint, yet he/she makes the best of it.

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    #13

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Icy hot

    Meaning: something that is refreshingly cool and "icy", yet also has an element of tantalizing burning, the "hot" part.

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    SaneMinotaur (she/her)
    SaneMinotaur (she/her)
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Fun fact: Your body reacts the same way to extreme cold as it does to extreme heat, which is why ice is painful to hold, like a heat burn is painful. Ice 'burns' you in a different way.

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    LizzieBoredom
    LizzieBoredom
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Sounds like I should have purchased the extended warranty on my internal thermometer.

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    lauralett50
    lauralett50
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Shaquille O'Neal' does ads for this product, it's good stuff for pain .

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    #14

    Joyful sadness

    Meaning: Being happy and sad at the same time (usually about different things/topics).

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    #15

    Living dead

    Meaning: (in fiction) reanimated corpses that have been turned into creatures capable of movement but not of rational thought; zombies.

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    #16

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Negative income

    Meaning: Invested income that has produced a loss and hence may yield a tax deduction.

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    #17

    Soft rock

    Meaning: A style of rock music with a less persistent beat and more emphasis on lyrics and melody than hard rock.

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    #18

    Friendly fire

    Meaning: Weapon fire coming from one's own side that causes accidental injury or death to one's own forces.

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    #19

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Deliberate mistake

    Meaning: An action believed to be wrong, but still done on purpose.

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    #20

    Disgustingly delicious

    Meaning: extremely (in a way that other people feel jealous of) tasty.

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    lauralett50
    lauralett50
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does this remind anyone of the Friends episode, when Rachel tried to make the trifle?

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    #21

    Bittersweet

    Meaning: 1. Arousing pleasure tinged with sadness or pain. 2. (of food or drink) sweet with a bitter aftertaste.

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    #22

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Civil war

    Meaning: A war between citizens of the same country.

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    #23

    Crash landing

    Meaning: An act of bringing an aircraft to the ground roughly in an emergency, typically without lowering the undercarriage.

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    #24

    Cruel to be kind

    Meaning: To cause someone pain for his or her own good.

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    #25

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Deafening silence

    Meaning: A noteworthy silence, or absence of response, especially one signifying disapproval or lack of enthusiasm.

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    #26

    Deceptively honest

    Meaning: Telling only part of the truth.

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    #27

    Definite maybe

    Meaning: Something that you think you might do, but are not certain about.

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    #28

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Freezer burn

    Meaning: A condition of discoloration or other damage caused to frozen food by evaporation, typically due to inadeqate packaging or storage conditions in the freezer.

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    #29

    Idiot savant

    Meaning: A person who is extremely unworldly but displays natural wisdom and insight.

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    #30

    Magic realism

    Meaning: A literary or artistic genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy.

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    #31

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Only choice

    Meaning: A limited choose; not many options.

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    #32

    Original copy

    Meaning: Original or near original copies of printed documents, not copies of copies.

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    lauralett50 avatar
    lauralett50
    lauralett50
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The documents that my family received from the War Department for my Uncle Ivan. Posthumously. Marina killed in WW2, Pacific . The documents are hanging in my grandmothers house.

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    #33

    Sad smile

    Meaning: A facial expression characterized by an upturning of the corners of the mouth, usually showing amusement, friendliness, etc., but sometimes scorn, etc.

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    #34

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Transparent night

    Meaning: 1. Free from darkness or obscurity; bright. 2. Free from dullness or clouds.

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    #35

    True fiction

    Meaning: Contemporary, realistic fiction story; imaginary characters and situations that depict our world and society.

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    #36

    Virtual reality

    Meaning: A computer-generated environment with scenes and objects that appear to be real, making the user feel they are immersed in their surroundings.

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    #37

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Modern history

    Meaning: History up to the present day, from some arbitrary point taken to represent the end of the Middle Ages.

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    anubis1 avatar
    Hippopotamuses
    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    When I studied history at varsity, I remember it being defined as the beginning of The Industrial Revolution. Somewhere around 1740.

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    #38

    Minor catastrophe

    Meaning: A disaster that is likely to be within the response capabilities of local government and to result in only a minimal need for state or federal assistance.

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    #39

    Amazingly awful

    Meaning: Bad or unpleasant to the level of amazement

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    #40

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Calculated risk

    Meaning: A carefully considered decision that exposes a person to a degree of personal and financial risk that is counterbalanced by a reasonable possibility of benefit.

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    #41

    Consistently inconsistent

    Meaning: Always inconsistent.

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    #42

    Definite possibility

    Meaning: Used for saying that something will definitely happen, even though you do not know how it will happen.

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    #43

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Devout agnostic

    Meaning: When you've reached the point where you just ain't worried about nothing. And all lies faithful people tell you don't matter but at the same time atheism doesn't seem interesting enough.

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    #44

    Going nowhere

    Meaning: Not making any progress.

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    #45

    Rolling stop

    Meaning: An individual failing to come to a complete stop, that is, all four wheels have ceased moving at a stop sign or red light that permits a right turn.

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    lauralett50
    lauralett50
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    My friend did this twice. That was an expensive lesson to learn .$200, each time.

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    #46

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Conspicuous absence

    Meaning: Way of drawing attention to the fact that someone is not in a place or situation where you think they should be.

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    #47

    Devout atheist

    Meaning: An atheist who zealously pushes atheism or attacks religion to the point of being as annoying as the people who annoy him.

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    #48

    Eloquent silence

    Meaning: Silence, which deliberately have been chosen by the speaker and is actually an internal choice.

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    #49

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Guest host

    Meaning: a host, usually of a talk show, that hosts the program in lieu of the regular host if they fall ill, have another project or commitment, or are unable to host for some other reason.

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    #50

    Ill health

    Meaning: Poor physical or mental condition.

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    #51

    Impossible solution

    Meaning: Situation that doesn't have a solution

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    #52

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Larger half

    Meaning: The greater number or part from a given group or collection.

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    #53

    Lead balloon

    Meaning: To completely fail to please

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    #54

    Living sacrifices

    Meaning: (in Bible) the entire person is given to God. It includes the dedication of the body as well as the transformation of the inner being.

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    #55

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily One-man band

    Meaning: A person who runs a business alone.

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    #56

    Overbearingly modest

    Meaning: Extremely shy; calm; Not having or showing any feelings of superiority, self-assertiveness, or showiness.

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    #57

    Pretty ugly

    Meaning: Ugly to a moderately high degree.

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    jeffgabrisl avatar
    Jeff Gabrisl
    Jeff Gabrisl
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not sure if I like that dress on you, it's kinda pretty, it's kinda ugly: it's pretty ugly!

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    #58

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Recorded live

    Meaning: The live Broadcast of the permanently captured audio or digital file containing the live streaming or recording of the Conference/Event.

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    #59

    Same difference

    Meaning: Used to express the speaker's belief that two or more things are essentially the same, in spite of apparent differences.

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    #60

    Seriously funny

    Meaning: The type of individual that knows that he/she is funny but denies and does not show any ounce of laughter or any sort of smile.

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    #61

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Silent scream

    Meaning: The screaming face expression with the mouth open but no sounds coming out.

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    #62

    Terribly good

    Meaning: Really, extremely good.

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    #63

    Unbiased opinion

    Meaning: Free from bias; free from all prejudice and favoritism; eminently fair.

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    #64

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Unconscious awareness

    Meaning: Not spending time consciously reflecting on what you should do; your response is immediate and comes from an intuitive sense.

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    #65

    Fail upwards

    Meaning: To repeatedly get fired but consistently find a new job that are better than the one you just lost.

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    #66

    Advanced beginner

    Meaning: Someone who has learned a lot but doesn't know what to do next.

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    #67

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Approximating solution

    Meaning: Calculating values when an equation cannot be solved using another method. The process involves estimating a start value, deriving the answer from the equation, and then improving the next estimate.

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    #68

    Free trade

    Meaning: International trade left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions.

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    #69

    Clean dirt/soil

    Meaning: Soil that does not contain contaminants from a release.

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    #70

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Accidentally on purpose

    Meaning: Something that has been done intentionally but pretending it happened by chance.

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    #71

    Real knockoff

    Meaning: Truly, evidently a copy that sells for less than the original.

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    lauralett50 avatar
    lauralett50
    lauralett50
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Like what we get from China? A lot of their stuff is mass reproductions., and not well made.

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    #72

    Cool passionate

    Meaning: A person who stays calm while pursuing their passion

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    #73

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Lascivious grace

    Meaning: Graciousness which is lascivious and sensual; sensuality which is gracious and elegant.

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    #74

    Climb down

    Meaning: Withdraw from a position taken up in argument or negotiation.

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    #75

    Dark light

    Meaning: Light that is so discrete you can barely see the light source.

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    #76

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Endless hour

    Meaning: A period of time that seems as if it will never end or stop.

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    #77

    Fine mess

    Meaning: Quite an example of a mess.

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    lauralett50
    lauralett50
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is another fine mess you've gotten us into. A line from a movie/ TV show. Can't think of the name.

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    #78

    Firm pillow

    Meaning: Pillow which offers ample support with less compressibility than a softer pillow.

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    #79

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Joyful sorrow

    Meaning: An emotional signifier of trust in the unfailing love of God in the midst of a fallen world.

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    #80

    Natural makeup look

    Meaning: Can sometimes be described as “No-Makeup Makeup” or “Second Skin.” This look defines face features without major changes, sculpting, or colors.

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    #81

    Beggarly riches

    Meaning: Riches that give no pleasure.

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    #82

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Clearly misunderstood

    Meaning: Someone totally did not understand something.

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    #83

    Darkness visible

    Meaning: In Bible, the phrase simultaneously furthers the counterplot, diminishing Satan by pointing to God as the ultimate perceiver for whom even darkness is visible.

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    #84

    Deliberate speed

    Meaning: The law or a regulation needs to be maintained or instituted without delay.

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    #85

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Even odds

    Meaning: An opportunity in which the chance of success is equal to that of failure.

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    #86

    Exact estimate

    Meaning: Correct in every detail; strictly accurate.

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    #87

    Festive tranquility

    Meaning: A positive, but chaotic situation

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    #88

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Friendly takeover

    Meaning: A scenario in which a target company is willingly acquired by another company.

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    #89

    Genuine imitation

    Meaning: An imitation of a (usually) valuable object that is so good that it is, to all intents and purposes, identical.

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    #90

    Humane slaughter

    Meaning: When an animal is either killed instantly or rendered insensible until death ensues, without pain, suffering or distress.

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    #91

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Intense apathy

    Meaning: Severe symptoms of apathy; Low or no reaction to emotions, like not feeling or expressing emotions, either positive or negative, or feeling indifferent to situations others may have a reaction to.

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    #92

    Jumbo shrimp

    Meaning: The phrase is typically used to refer to shrimp for human consumption that are of a particularly large size compared to other shrimp.

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    #93

    Living end

    Meaning: The most extreme form of something or the final and most impactful development in a series of events — whether favorable or unfavorable.

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    #94

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Loud whisper

    Meaning: A whisper that is loud enough to be heard.

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    #95

    Loyal opposition

    Meaning: A minority party especially in a legislative body whose opposition to the party in power is constructive, responsible, and bounded by loyalty to fundamental interests and principles.

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    #96

    Militant pacifist

    Meaning: Someone who will use every peaceful method at their disposal to oppose violence and war.

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    #97

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Minor miracle

    Meaning: An improbable, unexpected, or surprising achievement or other occurrence that is fortunate and agreeable.

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    #98

    Negative growth

    Meaning: A decline in a company's sales or earnings, or a decrease in an economy's GDP during any quarter.

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    anubis1 avatar
    Hippopotamuses
    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’ve heard this used to describe my country’s GDP. It’s the ultimate in weasel-words.

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    #99

    Old news

    Meaning: Something or someone not new or exciting any more.

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    #100

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Paper towel

    Meaning: A piece of absorbent paper used for wiping up liquids or drying things.

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    #101

    Plastic glasses

    Meaning: A plastic substitute for a drinking vessel usually made of glass and would normally be transparent.

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    #102

    Plastic silverware

    Meaning: Any utensil, such as a fork, spoon, spork, or knife, made predominantly of plastic, intended for only one-time use.

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    #103

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Poor health

    Meaning: A person's inability to perform required tasks physically, mentally, or socially.

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    #104

    Properly ridiculous

    Meaning: Silly or unreasonable to a moderately high degree.

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    #105

    Small crowd

    Meaning: A relatively small group of people who have gathered together.

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    #106

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Static flow

    Meaning: The maximum fuel a fuel injector can flow at a given pressure.

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    #107

    Steel wool

    Meaning: An abrasive material composed of long fine steel shavings and used especially for scouring and burnishing.

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    #108

    Student teacher

    Meaning: A student who is learning how to teach and practicing teaching for the first time.

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    #109

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Theoretical experience

    Meaning: Explanation that teaches you the experience of others.

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    #110

    Act naturally

    Meaning: Act being relaxed and not trying to hide anything.

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    #111

    Near miss

    Meaning: A narrowly avoided collision or other accident.

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    #112

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Government organization

    Meaning: A government appointed group, it can be permanent or semi-permanent organization and is funded by the government.

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    anubis1 avatar
    Hippopotamuses
    Hippopotamuses
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Government Organisation has different meanings in different countries.

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    #113

    Almost exactly

    Meaning: Very close to perfection.

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    #114

    Approximately equal

    Meaning: Close enough in value so the difference is inconsequential in practical terms.

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    #115

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Close distance

    Meaning: Near in space or time; in proximity.

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    #116

    Constant variable

    Meaning: Something that is kept the same during an experiment.

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    #117

    Divided unity

    Meaning: Anything that has been divided into a number of smaller parts.

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    #118

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Final draft

    Meaning: A final version of something (such as a document) usually after a lot of editing and rewriting.

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    #119

    Literal interpretation

    Meaning: An interpretation based on the exact wording.

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    #120

    Mud bath

    Meaning: A bath in the mud of mineral springs, taken to relieve rheumatic complaints.

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    #121

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Open circuit

    Meaning: An electrical circuit in which the continuity is broken so that current does not flow.

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    #122

    Zero deficit

    Meaning: When the government resorts to borrowing only to clear the existing backlog of interest payments.

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    #123

    Dull roar

    Meaning: A relatively quiet degree of noisiness.

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    #124

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Growing smaller

    Meaning: To shrink or become smaller in size.

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    #125

    Historical present

    Meaning: The present tense used in relating past events.

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    #126

    Loosely sealed

    Meaning: 1. Free or released from confinement or restraint. 2. Not close, compact, or tight in structure or arrangement.

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    #127

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Paper tablecloth

    Meaning: A piece of paper used to cover a table, esp. during a meal.

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    #128

    Random order

    Meaning: Arrange or organize by chance, without any order or plan.

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    #129

    Accurate estimate

    Meaning: An indication of the degree to which the final cost outcome of a project may vary from the single point value used as the estimated cost for the project.

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    #130

    130 Illustrative Oxymoron Examples We’re Sure To Start Using Daily Double solitaire

    Meaning: A card game for two players in which each plays an individual game of Klondike or Canfield but can build upon the opponent's as well as his or her own aces, the winner being the one who has played the greater number of cards to the center.

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