oxymoron
noun
- a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, such as 'deafening silence' or 'living dead'.
- The critic described the movie's tone as a playful oxymoron.
- Calling it a 'wise fool' becomes an oxymoron when taken literally.
- The term 'bittersweet' is a classic oxymoron.
- Using 'controlled chaos' as a phrase creates an intentional oxymoron.