Oxymoron is defined in dictionaries as a rhetorical figure in which incongruous or contradictory terms are combined, as in a "deafening silence" and a "mournful optimist." In his Dictionary of Literary Terms, J. A. Cuddon describes oxymoron as an old but common device in literature especially in poetry, closely related to antithesis and paradox.
In a classic example from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo expresses his bewilderment at such paradoxes:
Here's much to do with hate, but more with love.
Why, then, O brawling love! O loving hate!
O any thing, of nothing first create!
O heavy lightness! serious vanity!
Mis-shapen chaos of well-seeming forms!
Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health!
Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is!
What compels Romeo to make contradictory statements? Read Lawrence E. Bowling's "The Thematic Framework of Romeo and Juliet" in Shakespeare Navigators.
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1. Principled Centrists.
2. Honest Republicans.
3. French Resistance.
4. Self-Effacing Kossacks.
5. Spanish Punctuality.
6. Texan Humility.
7. North Korean Democracy.
8. "Fair and Balanced" News.
9. German Humor.
10. Passive New Yorkers.
11. Cerebral "Miss America" Contestants.
12. Congressional Ethics.
13. Gentle Imperialism.
14. Health "Care."
15. Benign Dictatorship.
16. Willful Negligence.
17. Equitable Capitalism.
18. Forward Retreat.
19. Post-Partisanship.
20. Random Pattern.
21. Colorblind Teabaggers.
22. Peacekeeping Force.
23. Racial Equality.
24. Momentary Delays.
25. Suburban Tranquility.
26. Non-Violent Revolutions.
27. British Delicacy.
28. Italian Competence.
29. Tolerant Taliban.
30. Humane Killings.
31. Irregular Pattern.
32. Virtual Reality.
33. Good Wars.
34. Engaging Economists.
35. Birth Control.
36. Friendly Tax Collectors.
37. Consumer-Friendly Banks.
38. Interesting Accountants.
39. Socially-Responsible Corporations.
40. Almost Ready.
41. Educational Television.
42. Racial Harmony.
43. Backseat Driver.
44. Paper Tablecloth.
45. Equal Opportunity.
46. Clean Coal.
47. Biased Judge.
48. Compassionate Conservatism.
49. Democratic Unity.
50. Middle East Peace.
51. Beyond Infinity.
52. Stable Stock Market.
53. Athletic Scholarship.
54. Casual Sex.
55. Serious Fun.
56. Condescending Sycophant.
57. Comfortable Bra.
58. Innocent Criminal.
59. Misanthropic Philanthropist.
60. Religious Tolerance.
61. Military Music.
62. Insane Logic.
63. Organized Chaos.
64. Political Leadership.
65. Common Phenomenon.
66. Northern Charm.
67. Brilliant Stupidity.
68. Common Abnormality.
69. Southern Efficiency.
70. Social Outcast.
71. Unbiased Opinion.
72. Veiled Accusation.
73. Fighting Quakers.
74. Wedded Bliss.
75. American English.
76. Genuine Fake.
77. Sweet Sorrow.
78. Artificial Intelligence.
79. Anticipated Serendipity.
80. Authoritarian Anarchy.
That's all I have for now. What have you got?
Some of these gems can be found here and here.