What type of figurative language is used in the phrase ‘deafening silence’ from ‘The Cop and the Anthem’

Euphemism
Hyperbole
Oxymoron
Personification

1 answer

The phrase ‘deafening silence’ is an example of oxymoron. An oxymoron is a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction, and in this case, "deafening" typically describes a loud sound, while "silence" describes the absence of sound. The combination highlights the intensity of the silence in a vivid way.