Figurative Language Worksheets | Oxymoron Worksheets - Free Printable

Understanding the Task

The worksheet is about identifying oxymorons in sentences. An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are combined to create an effect. For example:
- "Cruel kindness"
- "Living death"

Your task is to read each sentence and underline the oxymoron in it.

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Solution: Identifying Oxymorons

#### Example Sentence:
"The original copies were on my desk."
- Oxymoron: *Original copies* (Something can be either original or a copy, but not both.)

#### Sentences and Solutions:

1. The liquid gas threatened the environment.
- Oxymoron: *Liquid gas* (Liquid and gas are opposite states of matter.)
- Underlined: The liquid gas threatened the environment.

2. The original copies arrived in the mail.
- Oxymoron: *Original copies* (Something can be either original or a copy, but not both.)
- Underlined: The original copies arrived in the mail.

3. The open secret kept me waiting in suspense.
- Oxymoron: *Open secret* (A secret cannot be open; these words contradict each other.)
- Underlined: The open secret kept me waiting in suspense.

4. The tragic comedy was very entertaining to watch.
- Oxymoron: *Tragic comedy* (Tragic implies sadness, while comedy implies humor.)
- Underlined: The tragic comedy was very entertaining to watch.

5. That incident was seriously funny.
- Oxymoron: *Seriously funny* (Serious and funny are opposites.)
- Underlined: That incident was seriously funny.

6. I’m having an awfully pretty afternoon.
- Oxymoron: *Awfully pretty* (Awful and pretty are opposites.)
- Underlined: I’m having an awfully pretty afternoon.

7. Do you have any foolish wisdom?
- Oxymoron: *Foolish wisdom* (Foolish and wisdom are opposites.)
- Underlined: Do you have any foolish wisdom?

8. You are looking painfully beautiful today.
- Oxymoron: *Painfully beautiful* (Painful and beautiful are opposites.)
- Underlined: You are looking painfully beautiful today.

9. The random order of the class is driving me insane.
- Oxymoron: *Random order* (Random implies lack of order, so these words contradict each other.)
- Underlined: The random order of the class is driving me insane.

10. That cupcake was awfully delicious.
- Oxymoron: *Awfully delicious* (Awful and delicious are opposites.)
- Underlined: That cupcake was awfully delicious.

11. The dark snow was everywhere outside.
- Oxymoron: *Dark snow* (Snow is typically white, so dark and snow are contradictory.)
- Underlined: The dark snow was everywhere outside.

12. I wanted to act naturally when I arrived at the scene.
- Oxymoron: *Act naturally* (Acting implies artificiality, while natural implies authenticity.)
- Underlined: I wanted to act naturally when I arrived at the scene.

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Final Answer:

Here are the underlined oxymorons for each sentence:

1. The liquid gas threatened the environment.
2. The original copies arrived in the mail.
3. The open secret kept me waiting in suspense.
4. The tragic comedy was very entertaining to watch.
5. That incident was seriously funny.
6. I’m having an awfully pretty afternoon.
7. Do you have any foolish wisdom?
8. You are looking painfully beautiful today.
9. The random order of the class is driving me insane.
10. That cupcake was awfully delicious.
11. The dark snow was everywhere outside.
12. I wanted to act naturally when I arrived at the scene.

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
&1. \text{The } \underline{\text{liquid gas}} \text{ threatened the environment.} \\
&2. \text{The } \underline{\text{original copies}} \text{ arrived in the mail.} \\
&3. \text{The } \underline{\text{open secret}} \text{ kept me waiting in suspense.} \\
&4. \text{The } \underline{\text{tragic comedy}} \text{ was very entertaining to watch.} \\
&5. \text{That incident was } \underline{\text{seriously funny}}. \\
&6. \text{I’m having an } \underline{\text{awfully pretty}} \text{ afternoon.} \\
&7. \text{Do you have any } \underline{\text{foolish wisdom}}? \\
&8. \text{You are looking } \underline{\text{painfully beautiful}} \text{ today.} \\
&9. \text{The } \underline{\text{random order}} \text{ of the class is driving me insane.} \\
&10. \text{That cupcake was } \underline{\text{awfully delicious}}. \\
&11. \text{The } \underline{\text{dark snow}} \text{ was everywhere outside.} \\
&12. \text{I wanted to } \underline{\text{act naturally}} \text{ when I arrived at the scene.}
\end{aligned}
}