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 Along the way, Halliwell tackles some of the field’s deepest paradoxes. — Quanta Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026 History proves the exact opposite through the Jevons paradox. — Barney Krishnan, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026 As a rock star, Chrissie Hynde has always been a bit of a paradox — gnarly but cerebral, ferocious yet guarded. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 Twenty-five years later, that architecture presents something of a paradox. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 11 Sep. 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 collections showed a dichotomy of heritage meets contemporary life; intimacy meets provocation; belonging intersects with rootlessness, and memories, music, nature, street culture and personal histories become material for visual language.
    — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • His understanding of humans as imperfect complex beings and looking at life beyond the dichotomy of individuals as good or bad.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • What these calls might mean, exactly, has long been a mystery.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But what Becerra stands for remains a mystery that only the next four years will reveal.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • Does this contradiction make Singapore a particularly rich setting for fiction?
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The number of independent sources matters, as do their authority, consistency, frequency and absence of contradictions.
    — Alona Karpinska, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • PBHs could help resolve other enigmas, too, for instance by acting as seeds for the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • After decades of perspective-shifting literary retellings like Wide Sargasso Sea and The Mists of Avalon and the current trend of feminist Greek myths, Cathy is an enigma begging for some traumatic backstory to staple her flaws together.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • Both shows attempted to offer a perspective on authentic Italian style, with Milan's incongruities as an underlying theme.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Listeners seemed to delight in the incongruity—a semipopular rapper suddenly sounded nothing like himself.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of incongruity

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paradox
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Cite this Entry

“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

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