OXYMORON ox·y·mo·ron n., pl. ox·y·mo·ra or ox·y·mo·rons. A rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a deafening silence and a mournful optimist. [Greek oxumoron, from neuter of oxumoros, pointedly foolish : oxus, sharp; see OXYGEN + moros, foolish, dull.] --ox y·mo·ron ic adj. --ox”y·mo·ron“i·cal·ly adv.

The American Heritage Dictionary

I like words and oxymorons are among my favorite, so here I have listed some oxymorons that I have collected over the years. This is not a "complete" list and I will add to it from time to time.

THE LIST

"Now, then ..."	Act naturally
Advanced BASIC	Almost exactly
Alone together	Butt Head
Civil war	Clean dirt
Clearly misunderstood	Controlled enthusiasm
Deafening silence	Definite maybe
Diet ice cream	Even odds
Exact estimate	Extinct Life
First annual	Found missing
Freezer burn	Genuine imitation
Good grief	Jumbo shrimp
Living dead	Mournful optimist
New classic	Once again
Original copy	Oversized brief
Passive aggression	Peace force
Plastic glasses	Political science
Pretty ugly	Rap music
Resident alien	Same difference
Secretly exposed	Silent scream
Small crowd	Soft rock
Sweet sorrow	Synthetic natural gas
Taped live	Terribly pleased
Tight slacks	Twelve-ounce pound cake
Working vacation

The following are not really oxymorons but they sure sound like they are or should be.

Airline food	British fashion
Business ethics	Childproof
Computer security	Computer jock
Government organization	Educational administration
Honest lawyer	Legal brief
Legally drunk	Military intelligence
Microsoft works	New York culture
Religious tolerance	Sanitary landfill
Software documentation	Temporary tax increase

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