ox·y·mo·ron
noun/ˌɒksɪˈmɔːrɒn/
/ˌɑːksɪˈmɔːrɑːn/
(specialist)- a phrase that combines two words that seem to be the opposite of each other, for example a deafening silence
Topics Languagec2矛盾修辞法 Word Originmid 17th cent.: from Greek oxumōron, neuter (used as a noun) of oxumōros ‘pointedly foolish’, from oxus ‘sharp’ + mōros ‘foolish’.