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Two opposite words together called. ” It makes you think because it seems weird at first.
Two opposite words together called. Mar 13, 2025 · An oxymoron is a figure of speech that puts two opposite or contradictory words together in one phrase. Mar 3, 2018 · The name for a new word created by combining and eliding two distinct words is called a neologism. " Mar 17, 2025 · Get to know about antonyms of together meaning, examples, synonyms, and more. Examples include deafening silence, hated affection, or mercy killing. Oxymoron, plural oxymora, is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. This figure of speech highlights the difference between the paired ideas and adds interest, rhythm, and balance to the language. . Difference Between Oxymoron and Paradox Oxymoron vs. Juxtaposition vs oxymoron - what’s the difference? Here we look at these two similar but contrasting literary devices to illustrate the differences between them. Like a paradox, an oxymoron is what’s known as a “contradiction in terms,” although oxymorons and paradoxes are two different things, as explained below. Nov 5, 2024 · Most words have antonyms, which are “opposite” words. Jul 23, 2024 · Learn the definition of “opposite words” and how learning them can improve your writing and English language skills, with lists and examples. Oxymorons make language colorful and fun. For example, the opposite of hot is cold, the opposite of fast is slow, and the opposite of big is small. " A contronym is also called a "Janus word" or auto-antonym. a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. While both terms deal with contradictory statements, an oxymoron is a contradiction of two opposite words and instead of making literal sense, oxymoron produces dramatic effect. Aug 30, 2023 · The term is an oxymoron, which pairs apparently contradictory terms to create a specific, often poetic meaning. In this case, the double meaning perfectly reinforces the theme of our book — that some things should never be divided, and sometimes the whole really is stronger than its individual Jul 17, 2019 · Common Opposite Words in English! Antonyms or Opposites are words that are opposites of each other. The Cambridge Dictionary defines an oxymoron as “two words or phrases used together that have, or seem to have, opposite meanings. This feature is also called enantiosemy, [1][2] enantionymy (enantio- means "opposite"), antilogy or autoantonymy. "In order to What is it called when you use two opposite words together? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings, like “old news,” “deafening silence,” or “organized chaos. Specifically, according to the grammarly blog, "a contronym is a word with a homonym (another word with the same spelling but different meaning) that is also an antonym (a word with the opposite meaning). …WHAT?? Contronyms: “Janus Words” Contronyms are words that mean two different, opposite things. So what you're looking for is the opposite of this. ” What is it called when you use two opposite words together? An oxymoron is also a noun that’s defined as “a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect, as in ‘cruel kindness’ or ‘to make haste slowly. Two antonymous words having the same meaning, not one word having two antonymous meanings. waking sleepheavy lightnessbittersweetfeather of leadburied aliveThese ideas seem to contradict each other. Aug 2, 2017 · I came across a Wikipedia page a few months ago that described a literary device that had two opposite words side by side in a sentence. The two are related, as you can see with ravel, because a contronym can mean the same as its opposite. Paradox In English, a paradox is a statement that seems to say two opposite things, but may be true. Alliteration, hyperbole, and simile are other types of figures of speech that are used to add emphasis and create vivid images. The contrasting ideas may be spaced out in a Jul 8, 2024 · An oxymoron is a literary device where two contradictory or opposite words are placed together in a phrase. See other Vocabulary Questions. Examples include : 'black & white', 'rich Oxymoron Oxymorons are words that communicate contradictions. Apr 14, 2020 · What is it called when two words are used together? portmanteau word, also called blend, a word that results from blending two or more words, or parts of words, such that the portmanteau word expresses some combination of the meaning of its parts. Examples include a deafening silence, harmonious discord, an open secret, and the living dead. ‘” So when contradictory or opposing words are combined, that expression is an oxymoron. For example: She was faithfully unfaithful to him Feb 7, 2019 · Do you know what the words that are spelled similarly and have two different meanings are called? They are called contronyms. Click for more!! We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. It's a word has contradictory (or reverse) meanings depending on the context. Jun 2, 2016 · Well, if I was to use the word antipode, it would always refer to two places opposite to each other, I want a word that's more general, though I think you're really homing in on something there. ” It makes you think because it seems weird at first. In each of these phrases, there’s the inherent assumption that, in addition to being opposite, the two words cannot be true at the same time and so are put together to create a humorous effect. An antonym of sad is happy. In this lesson, you will learn common antonyms list in English. Aug 29, 2023 · Words that are opposite or nearly opposite in meaning are called antonyms. And I wil We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. ” Antonyms are words that have opposite meanings. Each category sheds light on the nuanced relationships between words and the concepts they embody, offering a deeper insight into language’s capability to Jun 23, 2023 · One common misconception is that antithesis must always involve a direct opposition between two ideas or words. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Oct 1, 2013 · A paradox is when two opposites-- contradictions--are in a sentence, but are not side by side. Sep 28, 2022 · Single word oxymoron Single-word oxymorons use two opposite or contrasting ideas pushed inside a single word. What are opposite words together called? When two opposite words are put together it is called an Oxymoron. This unique combination serves to create a vivid or thought-provoking effect. The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, such as “cruel kindness,” or “living death”. This device is often used to create a sense of irony or humor, and to emphasize the contrast between two seemingly opposite concepts. A paradox contradicts itself. ” Have you ever heard of “bittersweet” or “jumbo shrimp”? These are oxymorons that mix opposites. For example, the antonym of good is bad. Mar 11, 2025 · Oxymoron definition An oxymoron combines two contradictory or opposite words to create a paradoxical or ironic effect. This is a "love-hate" relationship. E. not really sure how to word this, and if this is the right sub, but what’s it called when a writer puts too opposite terms together (in this case, in harmony)? like in this quote: “ [it] exposes man to physical activity and mental activity, to unrepressed sensuality and self-directed spirituality, to communal solidarity and individual development, etc etc” i know that’s not an May 11, 2021 · Oxymoron examples can be awfully fun to point out. 3. penalize), clip (attach vs cut off). Cleave is often cited as the go-to contronym: it can refer to splitting something apart and to uniting two things. Opposite words can be single words, such as 'hot' and 'cold', or they may be phrases like 'go away' and 'come here'. An oxymoron (plurals: oxymorons and oxymora) is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction. Earn community karma by submitting a comment that OP indicates solves their post. While this is often the case, antithesis can also involve a contrast between two related ideas or words. I'm pretty sure there's a term for this, but I can't remember it -- the only thing that comes to mind is "non sequitur", but that apparently has a slightly different meaning. For example, “love and hate” are direct opposites, while “love and indifference” are related but contrasting ideas. Such combinations of opposite words are also known as contradictions. Double word oxymoron A double-word oxymoron is made up of two different words standing separate from one another and giving birth to a deeper meaning when considered as a whole. If […] Jan 26, 2023 · What is the literary term for a construction that coordinates two opposites or complementary ideas to describe a whole and everything in between? Both great and small, both good and evil, both body Jan 20, 2025 · An oxymoron pairs two opposite words together, like “deafening silence. com! Sep 8, 2024 · A contronym (also called a contranym or an autoantonym) is a word with two meanings that happen to be the opposite of each other. The small giant is an oxymoron because we have two opposite words giants are not normally small. What words have two opposite meanings? An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two apparently contradictory terms appear together. Feb 28, 2023 · Oxymoron An oxymoron uses the combination of two contradictory terms to create a new meaning or effect. Antonyms for together include apart, separately, independently, alone, individually, respectively, distinctly, exclusively, disjointly and each. These unexpected phrases make us think and help to reveal May 13, 2025 · Oxymorons are often found in literature, but as shown by this list of 100 awfully good examples, they are also part of our everyday speech. Unlike an oxymoron ("horribly kind", "run slow"), this page described words that were almost identical, but one word was the "un" of the other word. Today we'll practice 100 examples of antonyms with sentences! Mar 12, 2019 · Opposite words, also known as antonyms, are an essential part of the English language. Those two things don’t seem like they should exist at the same time, and we both knew that was a word for it so we were really agitated trying to figure out what the word that describes that phenomenon was. So, since your two opposites are See full list on dictionary. Then there are these super CONFUSING words called contronyms. Oct 24, 2023 · But one word, cleave, turned out to be especially interesting, because it has two definitions with exactly opposite meanings. What is the literary term for two opposite words together? What is an oxymoron? May 8, 2020 · I'm drawing a blank here -- for example, in the sentence "The manager directed that the employee build destruction ", the two words "build destruction" do not really make sense together. Vocabulary. Jun 20, 2022 · An oxymoron is a figure of speech that pairs two opposite words together. What do old/young & wealthy/poor have in common? They are opposites. For example, “hot” and “cold” are antonyms because they have completely different meanings. What is it called when two things dont go together? dissonant Add to list Share. While an oxymoron is the combination of two contradictory/opposite words in a single sentence, a paradox is an entire phrase/sentence that appears contradictory but, upon further investigation, could be true or plausible. Each category sheds light on the nuanced relationships between words and the concepts they embody, offering a deeper insight into language’s capability to Oxymoron: a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other, for example a deafening silence or bittersweet. These pairs of words are termed as antonyms because they are words with contrasting meanings. Learn how oxymorons can add drama, humor, irony, or confusion to your writing and see a list of common oxymorons. Auto-antonyms, also contranyms or Janus words, are words that can mean two opposite things, such as oversight (accidental omission vs. The simplest explanation is that they are words that have opposite meanings. Antithesis, on the other hand, puts opposite ideas close to each other in a sentence. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Irony, Oxymoron, Onomatopoeia and more. Short and tall are complete opposites. It could possibly be a phrase instead of just a single word, any ideas? An oxymoron, on the other hand, is a combination of two contradictory or opposite words. Jan 4, 2022 · Contronyms can bewilder you fast. Check out the list of 424 common antonym pairs we've compiled below! If you want a fun way to keep practicing your antonym pairs while studying, as a game with friends, or as a classroom tool, we offer a set of Aug 27, 2011 · Possible Duplicate: A word for two very different things juxtaposed? What is the word to describe when two ideas (often contrasting) are placed next to each other to enhance the situation or idea being presented? I believe it could describe the placement of two words or ideas in a poem, or two melodies in a song, or two objects in a piece of art. Mar 7, 2024 · When it comes to language and communication, antonyms play a crucial role in providing the opposite meanings to words. Solve mcqs and check your answers. They are used to express contrast or opposition between two words, and are often used to describe the relationship between two ideas. Mar 30, 2021 · Specifically, a contronym is a word with a homonym (another word with the same spelling but different meaning) that is also an antonym (a word with the opposite meaning). The beauty of antithesis lies in its simplicity and power in emphasizing the contrast. Oxymorons typically serve to emphasize conflict or contradictions, create humor or satire, and accentuate characteristics. This might sound strange at first – why put opposites together? Feb 13, 2024 · Definition Examples What is an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a figure of speech created by combining two contradictory terms to present logically accurate ideas, such as "larger half". Antonyms help us understand language better by providing contrasting meanings for Can you think of a word that has two opposite meanings? In this video, I am going to talk about ten words, each of which has two opposite meanings. Understanding Antithesis Defining the Duality Antithesis involves putting two opposite ideas together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect but in a balanced way. Not all words have antonyms. com Mar 3, 2025 · Have you ever heard phrases like “bittersweet”, “deafening silence”, or “jumbo shrimp” and wondered how two opposite words can be used together? These are called oxymorons - a special figure of speech where contradictory terms appear side by side. Even though the two words are often antonyms (words with opposite meanings), they don't negate each other. The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings e. Jun 16, 2025 · Oxymorons are figures of speech that combine two opposite words, such as jumbo shrimp or deafening silence. An oxymoron usually consists of two opposite words, while a paradox consists of two contradictory statements, or a single statement that holds two opposite pieces of logic. Cleave can mean to divide or split, but it can also mean to adhere or join together. Here's what you need to know about contronyms. These words are their OWN antonyms; they mean both one thing and the opposite of that thing. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like A comparison between two things using the words "like" or "as" is a(n), A special type of simile or metaphor in which two very different things are being compared is called a, A comparison between two things not using "like" or "as" is called a and more. Another key difference between the literary devices is the number of words. " But oxymorons can also occur over the course Jun 20, 2024 · Think of phrases like “bittersweet” or “jumbo shrimp. "bitter sweet": "my last day of school that I had been attending for 15 years, what a bitter sweet experience that was" e. ” These are more than just interesting ways to put words together. Two contrasting/ opposite words next to each other to create a phrase. Give some examples of Oxymorons? Some common examples of oxymorons include Exact estimate, Quiet roar, Student-teacher, Only choice, Same difference, Friendly fire, Virtual reality, etc. Effect: The two opposite things being brought together make a whole. Neither of us were thinking of the word oxymoron. They are statements that may be true, but are self-contradictory and unusual to happen at the same time e. An oxymoron is just like a paradox; however, the two opposites are side by side e. The most recognizable oxymorons are adjective-noun pairs, as in the phrase "proud humility. ” Feb 13, 2016 · For example if you said,'a beautiful tragedy', the words 'beautiful' and 'tragedy', are completely different things. The opposite things balance each other out and make the reader able understand in more depth something that is being conveyed. However, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together. , Civil war Dependent morpheme A dependent morpheme uses two different morphemes to Welcome to r/whatstheword, a community where users help each other to come up with the [perfect, best, ideal, most suitable] word or phrase. Together, they offer a way to express different concepts by showcasing opposing ideas in a clear and concise manner. May 8, 2017 · A paradox is when things confict, but it does not answer the question Is there a word for “making two conflicting elements coexist together in a system”? Frequently described as "words that are their own opposites," contronyms (contranym is a variant spelling) are also known as Janus words, antagonyms, and autoantonyms. Symbolism: An object, thing or person symbolises something else and has a different meaning than its usual meaning. We also provide examples and suggest some great resources to help you teach your classes about juxtaposition, oxymoron and more. Find more opposite opposite words are called “antonyms. What is the English concept of putting these two words together to describe some Nov 10, 2023 · An oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposite words together, creating a paradox or contradiction. May 31, 2022 · The term you’re looking for is oxymoron, which comes from a Greek word whose literal translation is ‘pointedly foolish’. Oxymorons typically involve an adjective – noun combination, like in “old news” or “alone together. Oxymorons are not meant to be taken literally. A paradox can also be a situation that is made up of two opposite things that seems impossible but is actually possible. Apr 3, 2013 · An oxymoron is two words which are opposites, put together. In this thesaurus, an antonym is a word that has a meaning that completely cancels out another words meaning. Find different common and well-known examples with our list, and learn what purpose they can serve. g. , Bittersweet. What is the literary term for two opposite words together? What Is an Oxymoron? The defining characteristic of an oxymoron is combining words or phrases that have opposite meanings. Many times, two opposite words are linked together in what is called a contrastive pair, meaning two words that form a contrast with each other in terms of their meaning or implication. Sep 14, 2011 · The English language includes an interesting category of words and phrases called contronyms (also spelled contranyms, or referred to as autoantonyms) — terms that, depending on context, can have opposite or contradictory meanings. What is it called when two words have opposite meanings? The term you’re looking for May 25, 2020 · What is it called when you put two opposites together? The term you’re looking for is oxymoron, which comes from a Greek word whose literal translation is ‘pointedly foolish’. ” However, they can also be formed using sentences, such as “the sound of silence,” or phrases like “act naturally Oxymoron Definition What is an oxymoron? Here’s a quick and simple definition: An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two contradictory terms or ideas are intentionally paired in order to make a point—particularly to reveal a deeper or hidden truth. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Alliteration, Oxymoron, Foreshadowing and more. When you use these words, be sure the context clearly identifies which meaning is intended: 1. "cruel kindness" or "living death". What are antonyms words? An antonym is a word whose meaning is directly opposite to another word’s meaning. They are called oxymorons. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two apparently contradictory terms appear together. Similarly, “big” and “small,” “happy” and “sad,” and “fast” and “slow” are all pairs of antonyms. The term you're looking for is "contronym," also called "Janus words" since Janus in mythology had two faces. Jul 1, 2022 · What's the difference between juxtaposition vs oxymoron? Juxtaposition and oxymoron both involve using two contrasting ideas, but for different reasons. Jun 4, 2024 · When you group ideas together, it is called categorization or classification. They occur when either two distinct words morph to have the same spelling and pronunciation, or when the same word can have different and unconnected figurative meanings which then evolve into opposites. This process helps organize and make sense of information by identifying similarities and differences among various ideas. However, normally that refers to a new word that makes sense when you combine two words, not an already established word that doesn't make sense in the context you intend. But they express the complexities of life. When two antonyms are used together for effect An oxymoron is when you have two opposite words side by side for example the small giant. Antonyms for put together include separate, unmix, clash, break down, break up, disconnect, disharmonize, disperse, divide and part. Paradox: It is important to understand the difference between the two similar ideas, oxymoron and paradox. The contrasting ideas may be spaced out in a sentence e. com : Word Count - Michael Lydon looks at how writers from Shakespeare to Tolstoy have understood the power of bringing opposites together. May 30, 2025 · English is filled with words that have reverse or opposite meanings, depending on the context. What is the definition of oxymoron? The definition of oxymoron is a phrase that combines two opposite or incompatible words. Dec 13, 2021 · An oxymoron is a combination of words, typically just two words, with contradictory meanings. It is a rhetorical device that uses an ostensible self-contradiction to illustrate a rhetorical point or to reveal a paradox. scrutiny), sanction (approve vs. Paradoxes are used to challenge the mind (to make you think about Jun 11, 2022 · The key difference is that these two terms describe different levels of self-contradiction. The dictionary meaning of the word contronym is "a word having two meanings that contradict one another. May 20, 2020 · Paradox: a statement containing two opposite ideas that make it seem impossible or unlikely, although it is probably true; the use of this in writing Oxymoron: a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other, for example a deafening silence Antithesis: the opposite of something; a contrast between two things May 29, 2025 · Discover the power of antonyms! Learn what opposites are, how to form them, and why they're essential for writing. Here are some oxymorons taken from Romeo and Juliet, spoken by Romeo in Act 1 scene 1. Paradoxes and Oxymorons are two types of contradictory statements in English. Oxymoron puts two opposite words together to make a strong point, like “bittersweet” or “jumbo shrimp. Find more opposite words at wordhippo. These are words that have developed contradictory meanings. But what exactly is an oxymoron? How can two words that seem to contradict each other make sense together? Stay with us as we break it down and show you some surprising examples. Get the long list of examples below. So hold fast to this review of the contradictory meanings of common contronyms, or words that have two opposite meanings. Sep 16, 2024 · Having explored an extensive list of 100 opposite word pairs, we can further enrich our understanding by categorizing these pairs into three distinct types: complementary antonyms, gradable antonyms, and relational (or converse) antonyms. A paradox seems contradictory to the general truth, but it does contain an implied truth. You might’ve heard of another literary device called the paradox, which is similar but not identical to the oxymoron. For example, the word original can mean "authentic, traditional", or "novel, never done before". Because of this, an oxymoron is often referred to as a contradiction in terms. Specifically, a contronym is a word with a homonym (another word with the same spelling but different meaning) that is also an antonym (words with There is curiously a term (actually, many) for a word that means its opposite (sanction, dust, fast, ravel), they are all called contronyms, autoantionym, contranyms, autantonyms). e. Poetic oxymorons are used in a similar way, expressing emotion and thoughts in ways the noun alone can’t convey. Examples are big and small, or long and short. ” Antithesis compares two opposing ideas in a sentence, like “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. You can "save" money by "spending" it. ” An oxymoron, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is defined as “a combination of contradictory or incongruous words. Jun 27, 2024 · What is an oxymoron? An oxymoron is a figure of speech that uses two opposite or contradictory ideas together to create a new and often thought-provoking meaning. The Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like simile, metaphor, alliteration and more. 2. Oxymorons are often used for emphasis, humor, or to provoke thought. Definition of Oxymoron Oxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. Exploring antonyms can greatly enrich your vocabulary and help Sep 16, 2024 · Having explored an extensive list of 100 opposite word pairs, we can further enrich our understanding by categorizing these pairs into three distinct types: complementary antonyms, gradable antonyms, and relational (or converse) antonyms. "small Contronym A contronym or contranym is a word with two opposite meanings. Mar 17, 2024 · Oxymoron and antithesis are different ways to show opposite ideas. Building your vocabulary is an important part of learning English, and a great way to expand your vocabulary is by memorizing antonym pairs, which are words with opposite meanings. luscwobdvanolvtalpowyrpylqnimnsbaekeenabfuvzqirld