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Oxymorons Trivia Quiz

Oxymorons - I love them - simple, totally incongruous statements. Can you pick the oxymoron (perceived or otherwise) from the meaning given?

A multiple-choice quiz by Engadine. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Engadine

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
105,401

Updated
Mar 09 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
6646

Last 3 plays: Guest 67 (5/10), pixiecat (7/10), Mark1970 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. To be joyful, yet gloomy. Which oxymoron describes this confusing state? Hint

Passive aggression

Cheerful pessimism

Terribly pleased

Good grief

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. The pretence of being real might be accurately described by which oxymoron? Hint

Act naturally

Kosher ham

Clearly misunderstood

Mutually exclusive

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. An honourable swindler is the subject of this oxymoron. Hint

Honest crook

War hero

Union worker

Peace officer

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. A shrill sound, not heard, is best described by which oxymoron? Hint

Quiet noise

Silent scream

Rap music

Accordion music

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Question 5 of 10

5. To discover gone. Which oxymoron refers to this distressing state of affairs? Hint

Always absent

Now, then

Found missing

Melt away

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Question 6 of 10

6. Bill's baby does the trick. Which of these jokingly-used oxymorons describes that feat? Hint

Software documentation

Desktop Publishing

Artificial intelligence

Microsoft Works

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Question 7 of 10

7. Similar dissimilarity can be summed up with which oxymoron? Hint

Same difference

More perfect

Genuine imitation

New classic

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Question 8 of 10

8. A welcoming discharge might be a rephrasing of which oxymoron? Hint

Friendly fire

Dark light

Holy war

Near miss

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Question 9 of 10

9. Mature intelligence. Which oxymoron might more aptly describe such a thing? Hint

Post modern

Old news

Truthful tabloids

Business ethics

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. A baby goat is resilient. Choose the oxymoron that best rephrases that fact. Hint

Childproof

Resident alien

Butt head

Professional wrestling

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Most Recent Scores

Jun 01 2025 : Guest 67: 5/10
May 28 2025 : pixiecat: 7/10
May 19 2025 : Mark1970: 9/10
May 17 2025 : Guest 71: 10/10
May 17 2025 : Guest 46: 3/10
May 17 2025 : Guest 170: 10/10
May 16 2025 : Aph1976: 7/10
May 16 2025 : Guest 82: 8/10
May 16 2025 : Guest 137: 8/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. To be joyful, yet gloomy. Which oxymoron describes this confusing state?

Answer: Cheerful pessimism

The definition of cheerful, an adjective, is joyful or glad. Pessimism means the gloomiest possible disposition or view. Let's all be cheerfully pessimistic!

2. The pretence of being real might be accurately described by which oxymoron?

Answer: Act naturally

Act (as used here) means behaviour which is contrived or artificial. Naturally, an adverb, means of, or according to nature. So, let's all act naturally!

3. An honourable swindler is the subject of this oxymoron.

Answer: Honest crook

Honest means to be honourable, to have principles, and crook means a dishonest person, especially a swindler or thief. Anyone know an honest thief?

4. A shrill sound, not heard, is best described by which oxymoron?

Answer: Silent scream

Silent means to make no noise. Scream means to utter a loud and sharp, piercing or shrill cry or sound. How obtuse - a perfect oxymoron!

5. To discover gone. Which oxymoron refers to this distressing state of affairs?

Answer: Found missing

Found is the past tense of find which means to come across, to locate, and missing is an adjective that means lacking, absent or not found! Isn't it funny how many things are found missing!

6. Bill's baby does the trick. Which of these jokingly-used oxymorons describes that feat?

Answer: Microsoft Works

That's like saying Windows Operating System or even IBM compatible - think about it! (For those who are not familiar with this joke, calling 'Microsoft Works' an oxymoron is meant to suggest that Microsoft products, released by Bill Gates's company, don't work, at least not without bugs when first released.)

7. Similar dissimilarity can be summed up with which oxymoron?

Answer: Same difference

Same is when something is exactly like another thing and difference is the way in which two or more things are not the same. Same difference - similarly dissimilar!

8. A welcoming discharge might be a rephrasing of which oxymoron?

Answer: Friendly fire

Friendly means welcoming, pleasant affable. Fire, to shoot, to discharge your weapon! Friendly fire unfortunately occurs predominantly in wartime and is the shooting of your own side, not the enemy!

9. Mature intelligence. Which oxymoron might more aptly describe such a thing?

Answer: Old news

Old means from sometime in the past and news means information about recent events! Mm, tell me something I didn't already know!

10. A baby goat is resilient. Choose the oxymoron that best rephrases that fact.

Answer: Childproof

A child (kid) is a boy or girl from the time of birth until adolescence. Proof, when combined as in childproof, means protected against or not damaged by! Yeah right, a lot of childproof things are actually more likely to be adult proof!

Source: Author Engadine

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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