Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a literary device in which two contradictory words are placed next to one another. These words are typically adjectives that appear to be opposites when used separately, but when combined, they create an entirely new concept.

The term itself comes from two opposite Greek adjectives meaning "sharp" and "dull" — which is itself an example of the device.

Common oxymorons include "pretty ugly," "seriously joking," "jumbo shrimp," and "awfully amazing." Not all oxymorons carry negative connotations — some create interesting or paradoxical meanings, such as "deafening silence" or "open secret."

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet contains numerous oxymorons when describing Juliet, including "beautiful tyrant," "fiend angelical," and "damnèd saint." These contrasting descriptors emphasize the complexity and contradiction of Romeo's feelings.