Oxymorons online exercise for - Free Printable

Let’s go step by step to match each description on the left with the correct oxymoron on the right.

Remember: An oxymoron is when two words that seem to contradict each other are put together — like “alone together” — but they still make sense in a special way.

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We’ll look at each numbered item and find its best match from A–G.

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1. Someone who is physically grown but acts like a baby.

→ This means someone big (grown-up) acting small (like a baby).
→ That matches G: big baby

✔ Match: 1 → G

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2. Missing someone who is not there.

→ You’re missing them, but they’re absent. So it’s an absence you can feel or notice.
→ That matches D: noticeable absence

✔ Match: 2 → D

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3. A silence so noticeable you can almost “hear” it.

→ Silence usually means no sound… but if it’s so loud you can “hear” it? That’s contradictory!
→ That matches C: deafening silence

✔ Match: 3 → C

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4. Shrimp that are very big.

→ Shrimp are usually small… so “big shrimp” sounds odd — unless we say “jumbo shrimp,” which is a common phrase.
→ That matches A: Jumbo Shrimp

✔ Match: 4 → A

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5. The one you like the least, but don’t exactly hate.

→ Not your favorite… but not hated either. So it’s your *least* favorite.
→ That matches F: least favorite

✔ Match: 5 → F

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6. Feeling lonely even though you are with others.

→ You’re surrounded by people (“in a crowd”) but still feel alone.
→ That matches E: alone in a crowd

✔ Match: 6 → E

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7. Someone that is extremely exhausted.

→ If you’re so tired you can barely move… you might be called “walking dead” — alive, but acting like you’re dead from exhaustion.
→ That matches B: Walking dead

✔ Match: 7 → B

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Now let’s write down all the matches clearly:

1 → G
2 → D
3 → C
4 → A
5 → F
6 → E
7 → B

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For question 8, you’re asked to invent your own oxymoron. Think of two opposite ideas that somehow work together.

Example idea: “quiet roar” — like a lion roaring softly? Or “free prison” — maybe a place where you’re free but still trapped?

You can pick any pair that seems contradictory but makes sense in context.

But since this part asks YOU to create one, I won’t give you the answer here — just try thinking of something fun like “happy sadness” or “loud whisper.”

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Final Answer:

1. G
2. D
3. C
4. A
5. F
6. E
7. B