The juxtaposition of two seemingly contradictory words is

The juxtaposition of two seemingly contradictory words is an oxymoron. This literary device combines two opposite or contradictory terms to create a new meaning. Examples of oxymorons include "jumbo shrimp," "bittersweet," and "living dead." The effect of using an oxymoron is to create a vivid image in the reader's mind and to draw attention to the paradoxical nature of the words used.