paradox

noun

ˈper-ə-ˌdäks How to pronounce paradox (audio)
Definition of paradoxnext
as in dichotomy
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another the paradox of fighting a war for peace

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of paradox From Managing Work to Protecting Human Potential As organizations continue adopting AI, automation, and advanced analytics, leaders will face an unexpected paradox. — Gerald J. Leonard, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026 Hinduism is a narrative religion; its mercurial wisdom is lightened and sweetened by stories, softened by ambiguities, sharpened by paradoxes. — Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026 Our study helps resolve this paradox by providing evidence that scratching also provides defense against bacterial skin infections. — Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 The spindle’s life, after all, is a bit of a paradox, Dumont said. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
  1. dichotomy
  2. mystery
  3. contradiction
  4. enigma
  5. incongruity
Noun
  • The dichotomy of 007, suited and booted in one moment and throwing himself into danger the next, requires shape-shifting abilities, something that is naturally applicable to the clever casting of an unknown actor.
    — Emily Maskell, IndieWire, 10 July 2026
  • Thomas said there’s a dichotomy in the league’s attempts to prioritize player safety on the court while ignoring their concerns off the court.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • The flashbacks this week are also quite thrilling, even if there’s not much to say about them yet, given that what’s happening to the Keene siblings remains shrouded in mystery.
    — Noel Murray, Vulture, 17 July 2026
  • Somewhere in Jeff’s eyes, somewhere in his incredible vulnerability and in his trust, that mystery is opening up.
    — Josh Fox, IndieWire, 17 July 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • That contradiction has become one of the defining stories of modern Atlanta.
    — Jeffrey Bennett, Time, 17 July 2026
  • Nothing illustrates European contradictions more clearly than energy imports.
    — Wesley Alexander Hill, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • In the first knockout stage match in the venue, Haaland’s winner in the 86th minute over Ivory Coast offered a lens into Norway’s rich fan tradition, and the enigma that is Haaland himself.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026
  • Physicists refer to this process as collapse, but scientists have not yet solved the fundamental enigma that drives this phenomenon.
    — Aldo Romero, The Conversation, 15 July 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • Irony involves incongruity, while tragicomedy is about possible congruity—not mutual erasure but the capacity for the tragic and comic to coexist.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
  • Nobody is more alive to the comic incongruity than the man himself.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
Definition of incongruity

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paradisiacal
paradox
paradoxes
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Cite this Entry

“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Nglish: Translation of paradox for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

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