fatimah0786
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- Joined
- Jul 12, 2014
- Member Type
- Interested in Language
- Native Language
- Urdu
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- India
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What is the difference between the words, 'Oxymoron', 'paradox', 'contradiction' and 'misnomer'?
Eg.'Benevolent dictator' is an oxymoron. If I replace the word with 'misnomer' 'paradox' or 'contradiction' how will the meaning change? I found the following definitions on the internet :
1. Paradox:
A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.
"the uncertainty principle leads to all sorts of paradoxes, like the particles being in two places at once".
2. Misnomer
A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
"‘King crab’ is a misnomer—these creatures are not crustaceans at all"
A wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term.
"To call this ‘neighbourhood policing’ would be a misnomer"
3. Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true).
4. Contradiction
Combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another.
"The proposed new system suffers from a set of internal contradictions"
o A situation in which inconsistent elements are present.
"The paradox of using force to overcome force is a real contradiction"
o The statement of a position opposite to one already made.
"The second sentence appears to be in flat contradiction of the first"
Eg.'Benevolent dictator' is an oxymoron. If I replace the word with 'misnomer' 'paradox' or 'contradiction' how will the meaning change? I found the following definitions on the internet :
1. Paradox:
A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.
"the uncertainty principle leads to all sorts of paradoxes, like the particles being in two places at once".
2. Misnomer
A wrong or inaccurate name or designation.
"‘King crab’ is a misnomer—these creatures are not crustaceans at all"
A wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term.
"To call this ‘neighbourhood policing’ would be a misnomer"
3. Oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true).
4. Contradiction
Combination of statements, ideas, or features which are opposed to one another.
"The proposed new system suffers from a set of internal contradictions"
o A situation in which inconsistent elements are present.
"The paradox of using force to overcome force is a real contradiction"
o The statement of a position opposite to one already made.
"The second sentence appears to be in flat contradiction of the first"
Corrections in my question are welcome, but please use your precious time, energy and intellect in answering the question asked rather than starting a discussion on the way it was asked.
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