oxymoronic
definition
a term or phrase that combines contradictory or opposing ideas
example
The phrase 'deafening silence' is a classic example of an oxymoronic expression that highlights the paradox of extreme quietness.
synonyms
contradictoryself-contradictoryparadoxical
word origin — The word 'oxymoron' comes from the Greek 'oxumos', meaning 'sharp' or 'keen', and 'moros', meaning 'foolish' or 'dull', creating a juxtaposition of contradictory terms.