Playing with Words: An Author Looks at Fun Oxymorons

by PeggySue Wells @PeggySueWells

Bulldozed by illness, I went to see the doctor.

“You have acute bronchitis,” the doctor diagnosed.

“As opposed to an ugly one?” I asked.

“Acute means ugly,” the doctor explained.

“Then why not call it that?”

“You’re feverish.” The doctor penned a prescription on a medical pad.

“Actually,” piped up my 12-year-old, “she does that to words. Don't ask her about asphalt.”

“Asphalt?” The doctor looked at me expectantly.

“Street language for constipation,” I outlined.

The doctor handed me the paper. “Get this prescription filled immediately. It’s the strongest antibiotic I’ve got.”

For wordsmiths, word play is second nature and fun. Such as forming oxymorons.

A combination of contradictory or incongruous words, an oxymoron occurs when two words with opposite meanings are put together. By juxtaposing one another, the combination provides a thoughtful contrast and can reflect humor, irony, and sarcasm. Even the definition of the word oxymoron is appropriately an oxymoron. Oxy means sharp while moron means dull. 

Here is a group of oxymorons. What would you add to the list?

adult children

authentic models

bittersweet

civil war

clearly misunderstood

cold fire

crash landing

current history

definite maybe

dull roar

extinct life

found missing

freezer burn

fried ice cream

friendly takeover

government intelligence

grow small

individual collections

jumbo shrimp

lead balloon

lost discoveries

minor miracles

negative income

neo-classic

new artifacts

old news

only choice

original copy

paper towel

peaceful conquest

permanent loans

plastic silverware

poor health

primitive advancements

private exhibit

recent past

recorded live

restored ruins

same difference

seriously funny

silent scream

soft rock

steel wool

sweet sorrow

unbiased opinion

virtual reality

working vacation

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Playing with Words: An Author Looks at Fun Oxymorons from author @PeggySueWells on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

PeggySue Wells is the bestselling author of 40 books and collaborator of many more. Action and adventure, romantic suspense, military romance, and cozy mystery are the page-turning novels by P.S. Wells, including Homeless for the Holidays, Chasing Sunrise, The Patent, and Unnatural Cause. How to live better, easier, and simpler is the focus of her nonfiction including The Ten Best Decisions A Single Mom Can Make. Founder of SingleMomCircle.com, PeggySue coaches writing and speaks at events and conferences. When not writing, she parasails, skydives, snorkels, scuba dives, rides horses, and has taken (but not passed) pilot training. Connect with her at www.PeggySueWells.com, on Facebook at PeggySue Wells, and LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/peggysuewells