oxymoronic
Internally at odds
Oxymoronic describes something that contains or resembles an oxymoron—a phrase combining contradictory terms.
Jumbo shrimp and deafening silence are oxymoronic expressions.
The word often highlights apparent contradictions: It seems oxymoronic to call a war peaceful.
Something can be oxymoronic intentionally for effect or unintentionally through careless phrasing.
Containing mutual negation
- incongruousNot fitting together harmoniously
- antitheticalDiametrically opposed to
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
- ironicExpressing contrary meaning
counterintuitive · inconsistent · discordant · absurd · illogical · dichotomy · antinomy · misnomer
Conspicuous lack of sound
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- living deadCorpses somehow still animated
- open secretKnown fact nobody admits
- virtual realityComputer-created interactive environment
passive aggressive · alone together · clearly confused · seriously funny · pretty ugly · working vacation · original copy · small crowd
Verbal wit techniques
- witClever, inventive humor
- ironyMeaning opposite to words
- punningExploiting double meanings
- satireMockery exposing vice
figure of speech · paradox · juxtaposition · literary device · clever · tongue-in-cheek · droll · whimsical
Noticeably impressive
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- memorableWorth holding onto
- thought-provokingPrompting serious reflection
- arrestingStrikingly attention-grabbing
surprising · jarring · dissonant · tension · unexpected · startling · puzzling · intriguing
self-contradictory
Containing mutual negation
- incongruousNot fitting together harmoniously
- antitheticalDiametrically opposed to
- contradictoryLogically opposed to itself
ironic · counterintuitive · inconsistent · discordant · absurd · illogical · dichotomy · antinomy · misnomer · jarring
deafening silence
Conspicuous lack of sound
- bittersweetWistful yet warm
- living deadCorpses somehow still animated
- open secretKnown fact nobody admits
virtual reality · passive aggressive · alone together · clearly confused · seriously funny · pretty ugly · working vacation · original copy · small crowd · student teacher
wordplay
Verbal wit techniques
satire · figure of speech · paradox · juxtaposition · literary device · clever · tongue-in-cheek · droll · whimsical · ingenious
striking
Noticeably impressive
- provocativeMeant to provoke response
- memorableWorth holding onto
- thought-provokingPrompting serious reflection
arresting · surprising · jarring · dissonant · tension · unexpected · startling · puzzling · intriguing · compelling
oxymoronicconsistent
Not varying or contradicting
coherent · congruent · harmonious · unified · concordant
oxymoronictautological
Self-repeating in meaning
pleonastic · redundant · tautologous · synonymous · complementary