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 With the paradox of the dog that could always catch something chasing a fox that couldn't be caught, Pseudo-Apollodorus wrote that Zeus turned them into stone to resolve the situation. — Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 24 July 2026 For Perry, however, the paradox of the Madden Center has become even more unnerving. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026 If anything, the better Rodri plays, the less noticeable his individual contributions become; the paradox of a player who quietly maintains the team structure so that others can thrive. — Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 July 2026 The solution to the AI speed paradox isn’t deploying more AI tools to deliver more and more content. — Jamie Garverick, Fortune, 15 July 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 exists then and now, which is why Plath’s work has longevity, and tarot is still a powerful form of divination because both speak to the soul.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
  • The Tour is both globally popular and hyper-local and Prudhomme embodies this dichotomy.
    — Andy McGrath, New York Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • For now, the investors behind the Terrasse project remain a mystery.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Scientists have spent years trying to understand how an animal — this animal — can survive for centuries, and a new study has now added another layer to the mystery that surrounds these predators by looking directly at their heart.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • For more than 36 years, the MX-5 Miata has stood as a delightful contradiction in the automotive world.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • There are few places where contradictions between the president's boasts and the economic reality of his tariffs are more likely to collide ahead of November's midterm elections than in battleground Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • On top of that, Perel said, the kinds of communities and rituals people traditionally relied on when facing enigma and loss aren’t so common anymore.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • The drawer at the bottom of your oven can be a surprising enigma.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • The passing of 30 years has only enhanced the appeal of the group’s Nashville detour, shifting attention from the incongruity of Ween cutting a country record to the joyous chemistry between these old pros and young punks.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 1 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of incongruity

Browse Nearby Words

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 3 Aug. 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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