paradox

noun

par·a·dox | \ ˈper-ə-ˌdäks,

ˈpa-rə-\

Definition of paradox

1 : a tenet contrary to received opinion

2a : 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

Synonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about paradox

Keep scrolling for more

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 on the Web

The model, Garrett says, is a sort of built version of this paradox, both a place and a representation of a place, separate but inextricably linked. — Nate Berg, Curbed, "Can engineering save Louisiana’s coastline?," 7 Nov. 2018 Besides the book's release, Hawking's final paper, on the black hole information paradox, was recently published by his colleagues in the preprint journal ArXiv. — Sarah Lewin, Space.com, "Stephen Hawking's Children and Colleagues Discuss Physicist's Final Book, Legacy," 17 Oct. 2018 Inevitably the paradox of choice sets in: All the restaurants seem simultaneously not great and good enough. — Bliss Broyard, Condé Nast Traveler, "I Took My Kids Out Of School for Three Months to Travel," 13 July 2018 Barkley is the paradox who explains the state of running backs in the NFL at a time when teams pass more than ever. — Andrew Beaton, WSJ, "Le’Veon Bell and the Diminishing Value of Running Backs in the NFL," 16 Nov. 2018 As such, the documentary ends by presenting what's ultimately the great paradox of something like General Magic: such an effort may eventually succeed in spirit or impact, but the practical experience will ruin a few things along the way. — Nathan Mattise, Ars Technica, "General Magic—how tech superfriends assembled, dreamt up smartphones, and failed," 12 Aug. 2018 The paradox is that the current trade war might propel China to come up with more ambitious industrial strategies. — Ling Chen, Washington Post, "How this trade war could backfire — in China’s favor," 25 June 2018 The third reason is a paradox: the very failure of his ideas to change the world for the better is ensuring them a new lease of life. — The Economist, "Rulers of the world: read Karl Marx!," 3 May 2018 While that might seem like a paradox — how can a cleanser not contain soap? — Ella Cerón, Teen Vogue, "How to Fight Acne and Dry Skin in Winter," 13 Nov. 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.