A figure of speech that combines contradictory or opposing terms to create a paradoxical expression. This device highlights complexity or creates emphasis through the tension between conflicting concepts.
From Greek 'oxymoros' meaning 'pointedly foolish,' combining 'oxys' (sharp, keen) and 'moros' (foolish). The term itself is an oxymoron, as it pairs 'sharp' with 'dull,' reflecting the device's inherent contradiction.
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