Contradiction In Terms for Dummies
noun
What does Contradiction In Terms really mean?
Hey there! So, I see you're wondering about the phrase "Contradiction in terms." Well, let me break it down for you in the simplest way possible. Imagine you have two words that are complete opposites and don't seem to go together at all. That's what a contradiction is - it's when two things clash or contradict each other.
Now, imagine you have two of these opposite words and you try to put them together to form a phrase or expression. But here's the thing - these two words just don't make sense when you pair them up. It's like trying to mix oil and water - they just don't blend. That's what we call a "Contradiction in terms."
To give you a little more clarity, let's think of an example. Imagine someone tells you they found a "square circle." Now, you may know that a square has four straight sides, and a circle has no straight sides, only curves. So, when you try to put these words together, it becomes clear that a "square circle" is just impossible. It's a contradiction in terms because those two shapes simply cannot exist together.
Another way to think about this is like trying to say "dark light." We know that darkness is the absence of light, and light is the opposite - it brightens everything up. So when you try to combine these two words, it just doesn't make sense. It's like saying something is both black and white at the same time, which is contradictory.
So, to sum it up, "Contradiction in terms" refers to a situation where two words or ideas contradict each other and cannot be logically or meaningfully combined. It's like trying to mix opposites that simply don't go together. I hope that made sense for you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Now, imagine you have two of these opposite words and you try to put them together to form a phrase or expression. But here's the thing - these two words just don't make sense when you pair them up. It's like trying to mix oil and water - they just don't blend. That's what we call a "Contradiction in terms."
To give you a little more clarity, let's think of an example. Imagine someone tells you they found a "square circle." Now, you may know that a square has four straight sides, and a circle has no straight sides, only curves. So, when you try to put these words together, it becomes clear that a "square circle" is just impossible. It's a contradiction in terms because those two shapes simply cannot exist together.
Another way to think about this is like trying to say "dark light." We know that darkness is the absence of light, and light is the opposite - it brightens everything up. So when you try to combine these two words, it just doesn't make sense. It's like saying something is both black and white at the same time, which is contradictory.
So, to sum it up, "Contradiction in terms" refers to a situation where two words or ideas contradict each other and cannot be logically or meaningfully combined. It's like trying to mix opposites that simply don't go together. I hope that made sense for you! If you have any more questions, feel free to ask.
Revised and Fact checked by Michael Johnson on 2023-10-28 06:48:16
Contradiction In Terms In a sentece
Learn how to use Contradiction In Terms inside a sentece
- Jumbo shrimp is a contradiction in terms because jumbo means big and shrimp means small.
- Silent scream is a contradiction in terms because a scream is a loud and vocal expression while silence means no sound.
- Act naturally is a contradiction in terms because acting means pretending or putting on a performance while being natural means being genuine and not pretending.
- Virtual reality is a contradiction in terms because virtual means something that is simulated or artificial while reality refers to what is actually happening in the physical world.
- Unbiased opinion is a contradiction in terms because an opinion is a subjective viewpoint while unbiased means not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.
Contradiction In Terms Synonyms
Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.
Contradiction In Terms Hypernyms
Words that are more generic than the original word.
Contradiction In Terms Hyponyms
Words that are more specific than the original word.
Contradiction In Terms Category
The domain category to which the original word belongs.