The conjunction of words which, at first view, seem to be contradictory or incongruous, but whose surprising juxtaposition expresses a truth or dramatic effect, such as, cool fire, deafening silence, wise folly, etc Sidelight: An oxymoron is similar to a paradox, but more compact, usually consisting of just two successive words (See also Catachresis, Enallage, Malapropism, Mixed Metaphor, Synesthesia)
A figure of speech in which two words of opposing meanings are used together to express two contrasting qualities in one concept
A rhetorical antithesis -- "wise fool" " eloquent silence", "jumbo shrimp" Apparently contradictory terms are grouped together and suggest a paradox
/ apparent paradox achieved by the juxtaposition of words which seem to contradict one another *I must be cruel only to be kind Shakespeare, Hamlet (A Glossary of Rhetorical Terms with Examples, Ross Scaife)
A paradox reduced to two words, usually in an adjective-noun ("eloquent silence") or adverb-adjective ("inertly strong") relationship, and is used for effect, to emphasize contrasts, incongruities, hypocrisy, or simply the complex nature of reality Examples: wise fool, ignorantly learned, laughing sadness, pious hate
Not what you think - you can look it up if you don't know You'll find it boringly interesting