Which term combines seeming contradictions, such as "deafening silence"?

Which term combines seeming contradictions, such as "deafening silence"?

• A. Oxymoron
• B. Paradox
• C. Analogy
• D. Allusion

Answer: (A)

Oxymorons fuse opposite ideas to create a striking image by placing contradictory terms together. In “deafening silence,” the words pair extremes—sound and absence of sound—to heighten the sense of quiet so intensely that the silence feels overwhelming. This kind of juxtaposition is what makes the expression memorable and vivid. A paradox, while it also involves contradiction, is a full statement or idea that seems self-contradictory yet may reveal a truth; it’s about a claim rather than a compact word pair. Analogy is a comparison used to explain by highlighting similarities, and an allusion is a reference to another work or person.

Oxymorons fuse opposite ideas to create a striking image by placing contradictory terms together. In “deafening silence,” the words pair extremes—sound and absence of sound—to heighten the sense of quiet so intensely that the silence feels overwhelming. This kind of juxtaposition is what makes the expression memorable and vivid.

A paradox, while it also involves contradiction, is a full statement or idea that seems self-contradictory yet may reveal a truth; it’s about a claim rather than a compact word pair. Analogy is a comparison used to explain by highlighting similarities, and an allusion is a reference to another work or person.