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Definitions from the Web

Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposite terms in a single phrase. This literary device is often used to create a dramatic or ironic effect in writing.

Senses and Usages:

Sense 1:

Noun: A rhetorical device that combines contradictory terms.

Example: The phrase "bittersweet" is an oxymoron because it combines the opposite words bitter and sweet to convey a complex emotional state.

Sense 2:

Noun: A paradoxical statement or situation that may seem contradictory but contains a hidden truth.

Example: The phrase "less is more" is an oxymoron, as it suggests that sometimes simplicity can be more impactful than complexity.

Sense 3:

Adjective: Describing something that appears to be contradictory or illogical.

Example: The artist's abstract painting is an oxymoron of chaos and serenity.

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