paradox

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

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

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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

This illustrates an Anthropocene paradox: Our technological interventions both endanger us and come to our rescue.

— david grinspoon, The Atlantic, "Hurricane Harvey Lays Bare Our New Bargain With Nature," 30 Aug. 2017
In each case, the same blindsiding realization arrives, bringing the inherent paradox of blockchain into focus.

— erin griffith, Fortune, "Term Sheet — Tuesday, August 22," 22 Aug. 2017
Bunting believes that the true island mentality is a paradox, comprised of such contradictory impulses.

— mark ellwood, CNT, "How Island Nations Are Bound Together by More Than Water," 14 Aug. 2017
Here’s the paradox: what makes Luck special is his ability to extend plays.

— andy benoit, SI.com, "Indianapolis Colts: 10 Things You Need to Know," 14 Aug. 2017
More studies are also needed to understand the apparent paradox of why black men and women tend to have less cardiovascular fat overall, but still have higher rates of heart disease.

— amanda macmillan, Health.com, "A Layer of Fat Around Your Heart May Be Just as Risky as Belly Fat—Here’s Who’s Most Likely to Have It," 3 Aug. 2017
That makes Lake Druid, with water quality that ranks as fourth healthiest of 94 lakes in Orlando, a paradox for the city.

— kevin spear, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Natural dilemma: Cattails may choke clean Lake Druid," 18 July 2017
Life on Earth is a paradox—to function, all organisms need energy.

— roland pease, Science | AAAS, "How sunlight might have jump-started life on Earth," 12 July 2017
Her solo show is a riveting meditation on evil, recovery, and the myriad paradoxes of the human psyche.

— Chicago Reader, "The Amish Project, Hitch*cocktails, and seven more new stage shows to see now," 12 July 2017

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

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paradox Synonyms

Synonyms

dichotomy, incongruity, contradiction

Related Words

antinomy; conundrum, enigma, mystery, mystification, puzzle, puzzlement, riddle

Other Logic Terms

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

PARADOX Defined for English Language Learners

paradox

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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