"Microsoft Works" is oxymoronic when used by people wishing to say that Microsoft Office (formerly known as Microsoft Works) is a faulty computer application. "Works" can be a verb meaning "functions properly". E.g. "My car works fine at the moment". In this case, someone calling Microsoft Works an oxymoron is saying the Microsoft Works/Office does not function properly.

It is not an oxymoron anymore, but at he time of Windows95 o.s. it actually was: the o.s. was not pre-emptive and it usually reacted to an ill coded program via an apparently blocked state (usually called 'system crash'). Actually the ill program was keeping the o.s. out from the CPU. So at those times Msoft it did not work! Other o.s. like Unix or Linux worked very nicely at those times.

LOL.

I never knew Microsoft works had become an oxymoron. I will be a supporter and say I still use it. Andrew and Daniel wow. Listen to them.