32 Terribly Good Oxymoron Examples

The minute you hear the phrase “pretty ugly” you immediately know that whatever this statement is describing is pretty ugly or very, very ugly. The contradicting phrase “pretty ugly” is known as an oxymoron – a figure of speech that pairs words that contradict each other. Even the term oxymoron is an oxymoron itself because the word is a combination of two Greek words: “oxys” which means sharp and “moros” which means stupid.

An oxymoron is a popular literary device used in various works of literature. The great Shakespeare is known for using oxymorons occasionally in his writings, especially in Romeo and Juliet. In fact, Romeo belts out lines and lines of oxymorons just in Act 1 Scene 1. Here’s a bit from the play. How many oxymorons can you spot?

O brawling love! O loving hate!
O anything of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness, serious vanity!
Misshapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
This love feel I, that feel no love in this.


However, Shakespeare isn’t the only wordsmith known to use oxymorons in English literature. Because other writers and storytellers like Lord Byron, John Milton, Geoffrey Chaucer, Jane Austen, and J.D. Salinger have also included them in their works. Let’s not forget that pop culture’s also peppered with oxymorons from movie titles, and song lyrics, to anything you can think of. Curious to know what other oxymorons are out there? Read on!