Skip to content
The lingwist

The lingwist

The Lingwist is the home for everyone who is passionate about language and linguistics. Feel free to share, discuss, and comment. The Lingwist's motto is " Learn & have fun"

  • Home
  • Discourse Analysis
  • Business Communication
  • English
    • Applied Linguistics
    • Core Linguistics
    • Grammar
    • Vocabulary
    • Functions
  • Composition
  • Privacy Policy!
  • About us
  • Contact Us!
  • Toggle search form
Oxymoron Instancess

60 Funny Oxymorons you will certainly enjoy

Posted on November 27, 2022September 18, 2023 By The Lingwist

On a daily basis, we use oxymorons but never thought how weird they actually are. Understanding their contradictions will make up laugh out loud. In fact, they’re quite common in everyday speech across multiple languages.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

What is an oxymoron?

According to the Collins dictionary, an oxymoron is a figure of speech in which opposite or contradictory ideas or terms are combined.

Etymologically, the word oxymoron is quite literally an oxymoron! Since it comes from the Greek word oxumōron: oxus sharp + mōros stupid

Here are some common oxymorons

  • Civil war
  • Unbiased opinion
  • Exact estimate
  • Peacekeeper missile
  • Awfully good
  • Only choice
  • Original copy
  • Bittersweet
  • Random order
  • Modern history
  • Working vacation
  • Bureaucratic efficiency
  • Grow smaller
  • Happily married
  • Virtual reality
  • Temporary tax increase
  • Living dead
  • Minor miracle
  • Only choice
  • Act naturally
  • Old news
  • Approximate solution
  • Free trade
  • Minor catastrophe
  • Small crowd

Other Oxymorons in sentences

  • Thank God I’m an atheist.
  • Free advice is worth what you paid for it.
  • Click the ‘Start’ button to shut down the computer.
  • May I ask a question?
  • We are not anticipating any emergencies.
  • This report is filled with omissions.
  • Spontaneity is good as long as it is controlled.

Let’s have a look at other funny oxymorons— Enjoy :

  • act natural
  • advanced BASIC (programming)
  • alone together
  • awfully good
  • awfully pretty
  • A Brief History of Humankind 
  • Back to the Future
  • bad luck
  • baggy tights
  • bittersweet
  • big baby
  • Big, Little Lies 
  • The Big Short 
  • black light
  • civil war
  • clearly misunderstood
  • constant variable
  • controlled chaos
  • crash landing
  • Cruel kindness 
  • Dead Man Walking
  • deafening silence
  • dull roar
  • even odds
  • Eyes Wide Shut
  • Falsely true 
  • foolish wisdom
  • freezer burn
  • friendly fire
  • genuine imitation
  • good grief
  • Honest Illusions 
  • intense apathy
  • Listen loudly 
  • live recording
  • Melancholy merriment 
  • militant pacifist
  • minor crisis
  • mud bath
  • negative income
  • old boy
  • old news
  • only choice
  • open secret
  • original copy
  • passive aggressive
  • plastic glasses
  • poor health
  • pygmy mammoth
  • random order
  • resident alien
  • seriously funny
  • small crowd
  • square ring (boxing)
  • student teacher
  • Sweet sorrow 
  • The Worst Best Man
  • true lies
  • Terrible beauty
  • unbiased opinion
  • You Only Live Twice
  • virtual reality
  • walking dead
  • weapons of peace
  • working vacation

Applied Linguistics, English Tags:Best Memes of 2022, Definition of Oxymoron, Funny Oxymoron, Memes, Oxymoron, What is an oxymoron?

Post navigation

Previous Post: 20 hilarious memes and puns that will make you LOL
Next Post: The best Memes and Puns of 2022

Related Posts

  • hhhhoopp
    10 Weird but Meaningful Words in English to Use and Impress Others Applied Linguistics
  • 1
    11 unusual facts about European languages you didn’t know English
  • Why We Love Cursing and Swear Words
    Why We Love Cursing and Swear Words English
  • Foreign emotion words with no English equivalent
    10 Foreign emotion words with no English equivalent English
  • The 50 Most Widely Spoken Native Languages in Europe
    The 15 Most Widely Spoken Native Languages in Europe English
  • palindrome
    15 Funny and Mind-Bending Palindrome Examples You’ll Love! English

Categories

  • Applied Linguistics
  • Business Communication
  • Composition
  • Core Linguistics
  • Discourse Analysis
  • English
  • Functions
  • Grammar
  • Vocabulary
  • Homogrpahs 2
    20 Hard but Useful Homographs you Should Add to your Vocabulary Immediately with Examples Applied Linguistics
  • noname
    The Sound of Personality: How Your Name Can Reflect Who You Are English
  • istockphoto 1269920752 170667a
    The moderate Version of Contrastive analysis Hypotheses Discourse Analysis
  • photo 1432888498266 38ffec3eaf0a
    Past perfect Grammar
  • a verbal error in which a speaker accidentally transposes the initial sounds or letters of two or more words, often to humorous effect, as in the sentence you have hissed the mystery lectures, accidentally spoken instead of the intended sentence you have missed the history lectures.
    Spoonerisms: Hilarious Slip-Ups and Funny Language Flips English
  • Baby Talk Bridges the Gap between Cultures and Languages
    Baby Talk Bridges the Gap between Cultures and Languages: A Study Reveals. English
  • Funny Words That Sound Ridiculous but Are Totally Real
    16 Funny Words That Sound Ridiculous but Are Totally Real English
  • istockphoto 811503094 170667a
    Language and culture: Languages can really reflect and promote cultural awareness Applied Linguistics

Copyright © 2026 The lingwist.

Powered by PressBook News WordPress theme