Learn English – What’s the opposite of “oxymoron”

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What's the opposite of oxymoron? That is, two words put together that seem identical?

Best Answer

Merriam-Webster says:

oxymoron, noun : a combination for epigrammatic effect of contradictory or incongruous words

pleonasm, noun : the coincident use of a word and its substitute for the same grammatical function

tautology, noun : needless or meaningless repetition in close succession of an idea, statement, or word

I'm not quite sure how the use of one word can be coincident with another per M-W's definition, but looking at pleonasms.com, one sees these nuggets:

anonymous stranger

basic fundamentals

empty hole

...

I'd say pleonasm comes the closest to being the antonym of oxymoron, in spirit if not in truth.

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