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 paradox of it, private and public, hidden yet accessible, reflects something essential about Antwerp, a city whose richness lives largely behind closed doors. — Michael James Gardner, Architectural Digest, 26 Oct. 2026 The paradox is that unpaved parking lots aren’t allowed either, dating back to the city’s 2023 zoning code update, even though that’s how the property has been used on busy days for decades prior to the city’s new land-use plan. — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026 Issues explored here are the racist roots of American real estate, the rise of the civil rights movement, the price paid by radicals who risk their personal safety for a cause, and the paradoxes of gentrification. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 One proposal to resolve the paradox is the Many Worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 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
  • Twisted Teens’ most compelling quality might be the fact that their obvious reverence for rock’n’roll history still leaves plenty of room for mystery, and the intrigue deepens on The Holy Cross Tigers, the group’s third full-length of 2026.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Gone are the mystery boxes Menabóh started out with back in 2021, which peddled upcycled fashion alongside vintage pieces and unsold garments from other brands.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • The stark contradiction between classroom theory and real world events sparked his curiosity regarding financial systems and influenced his perspective on how economic policy should manage operational risks.
    — , CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Despite the beery bonhomie and singalong-friendly simplicity of their tunes, the Twisted Teens are grappling with an increasingly complex tangle of contradictions and tensions.
    — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • The mechanism of this pattern recognition has remained an enigma, however.
    — Kristel Tjandra, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Christie behind the facade Christie remains the undisputed queen of crime 50 years after her death — and something of an enigma.
    — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 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
paradoxes
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Cite this Entry

“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 10 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

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