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 The industry paradox is that the complexity and speed of this new breed of attack, combined with the scarcity of security talent, are leading some organizations to solely rely on AI automation. — Carlos Morales, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 This dichotomy underscored the paradox of the administration’s crackdown on legal immigration. — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026 But the paradox of choice can be a headache for companies needing computing power yesterday. — Jordan Novet, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026 The science behind a paradox While in the clinic, Carleton began studying a years-old question in the lab. — Allessandra Dicorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
  1. dichotomy
  2. mystery
  3. contradiction
  4. enigma
  5. incongruity
Noun
  • This can set up an easy dichotomy in which one of the items is good, and the other, by being its opposite, is bad.
    — Shayla Love, Vox, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Thinking about that dichotomy laid the groundwork for the honest-to-goodness songwriting on Rent Money.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • But genuinely funny moments are rare, badly outnumbered by done-to-death musings regarding the mysteries of being alive and torturous melodramatic moments in which Klara dully absorbs the severity of Josie’s illness and Chrissy’s sorrow.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Genres run from crime thrillers and detective mysteries to folklore horror, social and courtroom drama, and romance.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • Seen through this lens, rising demand for in-person connection amid the rapid expansion of technology is not a contradiction.
    — Davis Noell, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Young argues there’s really no contradiction between these models and the evidence his team collected in the field.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • With Simmons still back on the ramp, largely remaining — to borrow from Winston Churchill — a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The enigma of comets and asteroids lured the world’s space agencies into funding a series of robotic probes to study them.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • The movie sanitizes the past and removes its tang, its pungency, leaving a craving for contact with nature, with raw experience, with incongruities and accidents and anything but what fits, in lieu of such synthetic sophistication.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

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