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
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Recent Examples of paradox
The paradox occurs in the labor market as well, with humans in many jobs standing in for coal.
—
Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Coined by Nobel Laureate Robert Solow in 1987, the paradox speaks to the observation that transformative technology—like computers, or in this instance, AI—can appear ubiquitous while remaining absent from economic data.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
This dynamic creates a paradox.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 21 Mar. 2026
The paradox is that headline GDP can shrink as output falls even while oil income rises.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Annie Lowrey, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Coined by Nobel Laureate Robert Solow in 1987, the paradox speaks to the observation that transformative technology—like computers, or in this instance, AI—can appear ubiquitous while remaining absent from economic data.
—Jake Angelo, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
This dynamic creates a paradox.
—Rick Burton, Sportico.com, 21 Mar. 2026
The paradox is that headline GDP can shrink as output falls even while oil income rises.
—Alaa Shahine Salha, semafor.com, 19 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
Noun
-
This dichotomy has been going on for decades.—
Mohammed Sergie,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The dichotomy of the Mashpi experience.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Borenstein notes that this was true before the mystery surcharge appeared in 2015.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Readers who approach this dense but astonishing book will laugh at how superficial that query seems in contrast to the mysteries of the universe.—
Bethanne Patrick,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Miguel Díaz-Canel, the puppet president Raúl Castro appointed, has been left to manage the contradictions.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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The lessons that endure are about constraint and invention, messiness and coordination, contradiction and persistence—about intervening directly and fearlessly in material reality.—
Julian Rose,
Artforum,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Simpson has been one of the biggest enigmas in this year’s draft.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
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The film, based on a true story that became a media sensation in the '80s, never renders a definitive judgment on von Bülow (who was acquitted in court), leaving him an indelible enigma that Irons teases but never tells.—
Devan Coggan,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Petzold marvelled at the incongruities.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
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Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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