# Oxymorons
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [November 4, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434 "2001-11-04T15:19:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/1 "2001-11-04T15:19:17Z")
Bring them on, but here’s a twist - extra zinger points if you can find one actually in use on the web. This thread was inspired by one I just now saw:
> [@](#):
>
> Get spooked with timely tracks from Smashing Pumpkins, Incubus, ColdPlay, U2 and other **mainstream alternative** artists.
Any more?
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### Author:  [@Sublight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublight)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/2 "2001-11-04T16:31:27Z")
I’ve always thought **miracle of nature** was an oxymoron. Miracles are, by definition, things that can’t happen naturally, right?
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### Author:  [@MagicalSilverKey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicalSilverKey)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/3 "2001-11-04T16:34:45Z")
I know this isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but it came to mind…
On Hostess fruit pie wrappers it says:
> [@](#):
>
> All natural fruit filling / artificially flavored
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### Author:  [@Zyada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zyada)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/4 "2001-11-04T17:29:13Z")
Sublight - I had never thought of that before, but I agree with you.
MSK - LOL, that’s perfect!
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### Author:  [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/5 "2001-11-04T18:10:18Z")
On a box of snack bars: **Soft and Chewy Peanut Crunch**. Eh?
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### Author:  [@Kwyjibo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kwyjibo)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/6 "2001-11-04T19:29:58Z")
Spontaneous Evolution.
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### Author:  [@Bboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bboy)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/7 "2001-11-04T19:42:33Z")
[Rap Artist](http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1005-200-1760313.html)…and it’s _all over_ the web too.
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### Author:  [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/8 "2001-11-04T19:47:30Z")
I grabbed my _Chambers_ to ascertain the etymology of the word oxymoron, and he offers an example which never occured to me– **Coldfire**!
Oxymoron goes back to 1657, as a point of interest.
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### Author:  [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/9 "2001-11-04T19:55:11Z")
Microsoft Works™
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### Author:  [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/10 "2001-11-04T20:49:37Z")
‘Repetitive tautology’ is a tautology.
‘Non-repetitive tautology’ is an oxymoron.
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### Author:  [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/11 "2001-11-04T22:09:15Z")
Right on, **glee**!!!
\
That’s always been a pet peeve of mine. “Oxymoron” is not synonymous with “contradiction in terms”.
“Rap artist” is a contradiction in terms.
“Parting is such sweet sorrow” is an oxymoron.
\
:ducks and runs:
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### Author:  [@moronmountain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moronmountain)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/12 "2001-11-04T22:27:42Z")
**The obvious:**
Jumbo shrimp
Military intelligence
Thunderous silence
Dark victory
“Make a left, right here”
Common abnormality
**The ethnic:**
French Resistance
**Not so obvious:**
Clicking the START menu to SHUT DOWN
“Sit up” in your chair
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### Author:  [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/13 "2001-11-04T22:28:29Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dono \*
> \*\*Right on, **glee**!!!
>
> \
>
> That’s always been a pet peeve of mine. “Oxymoron” is not synonymous with “contradiction in terms”.
>
> \
>
> :ducks and runs: \*\*
\ I think I speak with some authority on the subject 🙂 …but Webster’s speaks with even more:
> [@](#):
>
> **Oxymoron**. Etymology: Late Greek oxymOron, from neuter of oxymOros pointedly foolish, from Greek oxys sharp, keen + mOros foolish
> Date: 1657
> : a combination of contradictory or incongruous words (as cruel kindness)
So what on earth do you mean? As we lawyers like to say,
**"You’re making a distinction without a difference."**
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### Author:  [@DPWhite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPWhite)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/14 "2001-11-04T22:30:03Z")
Chief Justice Rhenquist
Light Rock, Less Talk (typical radio ad)
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### Author:  [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2001, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/15 "2001-11-04T22:37:06Z")
First, sorry to drag **glee** into this. Took about three minutes of quiet reflection to realize that post had nothing to do with this.
The distintion between the two is that an oxymoron is {i}pointedly{/i] foolish - two words that appear contradictory on the surface, but that actually make sense upon examination. “Cruel kindness”, as you cited, is a good example. “Rap artist”, on the other hand, makes no sense at any level.
But I realize you intended this as a fun thread, not an English lesson. Sorry for my intrusion - I feel like an idiot.
I’ll leave quietly now.
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### Author:  [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2001, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/16 "2001-11-05T01:08:53Z")
How about, “Democratic unity”?
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### Author:  [@wevets](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wevets)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2001, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/17 "2001-11-05T01:40:22Z")
“Foreseeable future” has always been my favorite oxymoron.
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### Author:  [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2001, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/18 "2001-11-05T01:45:39Z")
\*\*IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
SLAVERY IS FREEDOM
WAR IS PEACE\*\*
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### Author:  [@Palve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palve)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2001, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/19 "2001-11-05T01:48:21Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by dono \*
> \*\*How about, “Democratic unity”? \*\*
On the topic of democracy…
I’ve always thought “democratic republic” to be an oxymoron. The democracy was a form of government originated in Greece in which citizens would gather publicly to vote on specific issues. A republic is where officials are elected or appointed to make such decisions for the people. They are clearly incompatible.
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### Author:  [@dono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dono)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2001, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oxymorons/91434/20 "2001-11-05T02:59:43Z")
True, true, JD.
How about, “Republican leadership”?