From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoxymoronox‧y‧mo‧ron /ˌɒksiˈmɔːrɒn $ ˌɑːksiˈmɔːrɑːn/ noun [countable] technical SLa deliberate combination of two words that seem to mean the opposite of each other, such as ‘cruel kindness’
Examples from the Corpus
oxymoron• This verbal combo is an oxymoron, of course, given all we know about the innately hazardous properties of nicotine.• Compassionate capitalism is not an oxymoron.• New public art outside of the gallery is something of an oxymoron since ironically most art collections are public.• Thursday evening, the work prompted an instant trip to the depths of oxymoron.• Bear with me while I unravel this seeming oxymoron.Origin oxymoron (1600-1700) Greek oxys “sharp” + moros “stupid” 