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oxymoron
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
Examples:
- 'Deafening silence' is an example of an oxymoron.
- The phrase 'jumbo shrimp' is often cited as an oxymoron.
cognitive dissonance
The mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.
Examples:
- When she realized her data was incorrect, she felt cognitive dissonance about her earlier presentation.
- Cognitive dissonance can lead to anxiety when someone tries to believe two opposing views.
perplexity
The state of being confused or puzzled.
Examples:
- He was lost in a state of perplexity as he struggled to understand the instructions.
- Her perplexity grew when she received contradictory information from colleagues.
misapprehension
A mistaken belief about or interpretation of something.
Examples:
- His misapprehension about the task led to a delay in the project.
- She cleared up the misapprehension that he was responsible for the error.