paradox

noun par·a·dox \ ˈper-ə-ˌdäks , ˈpa-rə- \

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Examples: paradox in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Did You Know?

Definition of paradox

1 : a tenet contrary to received opinion

2 a : a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true

b : a self-contradictory statement that at first seems true

c : an argument that apparently derives self-contradictory conclusions by valid deduction from acceptable premises

3 : one (such as a person, situation, or action) having seemingly contradictory qualities or phases

See paradox defined for English-language learners

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Examples of paradox in a Sentence

For the actors, the goal was a paradox: real emotion, produced on cue. —Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 27 Oct. 2008
Again and again, he returns in his writing to the paradox of a woman who is superior to the men around her by virtue of social class though considered inferior to them on account of her gender. —Terry Eagleton, Harper's, November 2007
She was certainly far from understanding him completely; his meaning was not at all times obvious. It was hard to see what he meant for instance by speaking of his provincial side—which was exactly the side she would have taken him most to lack. Was it a harmless paradox, intended to puzzle her? or was it the last refinement of high culture? —Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady, 1881
Mr. Guppy propounds for Mr. Smallweed's consideration the paradox that the more you drink the thirstier you are and reclines his head upon the window-sill in a state of hopeless languor. —Charles Dickens, Bleak House, 1852-53
It is a paradox that computers need maintenance so often, since they are meant to save people time.
As an actor, he's a paradox—he loves being in the public eye but also deeply values and protects his privacy.
a novel full of paradox

Recent Examples of paradox from the Web

In her weekly tutu scene, Parker conjured a modern-day version of this paradox.

— rhonda garelick, The Cut, "Carrie Bradshaw’s Tutu Paradox," 1 June 2018
Disney and Lucasfilm are encountering a major paradox here.

— steven zeitchik, chicagotribune.com, "4 ways Disney could get the Star Wars franchise back on track," 29 May 2018
At more than an hour in length, with multiple scenes of senseless violence and hamfisted world-building dialogue, this week’s episode felt like a prime example of the Westworld paradox: The show’s playing with fire, but can feel as inert as ice.

— david sims, The Atlantic, "Westworld and the Question of Immortality," 13 May 2018
Capitalising on the Maradona paradox, the Argentinians brought their opponents down to their level, suppressing their free flowing spirit - to an extent.

— SI.com, "World Cup Countdown: 7 Weeks to Go - When Maradona Turned Naples Against the Italian National Team," 2 May 2018
Conversation sprawled, covering topics such as word origins, Tom Petty, Theseus' paradox, pets, podcasts, medicine and love letters.

— hanna krueger, NOLA.com, "At Death Cafe, New Orleanians discuss anything related to death. And there's cake.," 30 Apr. 2018
The paradox in question is the altruistic behavior exhibited most famously by social insects.

— jordana cepelewicz, Scientific American, "The Elusive Calculus of Insect Altruism," 26 Apr. 2018
Finally, an endeavor like Ritual Design Lab has a paradox at its heart.

— sigal samuel, The Atlantic, "A Design Lab Is Making Rituals for Secular People," 7 May 2018
The Green Fog is a true paradox—an academic exercise with a popcorn mentality and a big role for Chuck Norris.

— j.r. jones, Chicago Reader, "With The Green Fog, Guy Maddin delivers an experimental feature that’s pure entertainment," 26 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'paradox.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

The ancient Greeks were well aware that a paradox can take us outside our usual way of thinking. They combined the prefix para- ("beyond" or "outside of") with the verb dokein ("to think"), forming paradoxos, an adjective meaning "contrary to expectation." Latin speakers picked up the word and used it to create their noun paradoxum, which English speakers borrowed during the 1500s to create paradox.

Origin and Etymology of paradox

Latin paradoxum, from Greek paradoxon, from neuter of paradoxos contrary to expectation, from para- + dokein to think, seem — more at decent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1540

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

paradox Synonyms

Synonyms

contradiction, dichotomy, incongruity;

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, postulate, syllogism

PARADOX Defined for English Language Learners

paradox

noun

Definition of paradox for English Language Learners

: something (such as a situation) that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible but is actually true or possible
: someone who does two things that seem to be opposite to each other or who has qualities that are opposite
: a statement that seems to say two opposite things but that may be true