as in paradox
someone or something with qualities or features that seem to conflict with one another
her outfit is a sartorial dichotomy: an elegant gown and ratty old tennis shoes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 dichotomy
The dichotomy between this market’s two franchises is striking.
—
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
But nothing landed as hard as the stand-or-sit dichotomy that the president served up.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Interesting dichotomies for me, from my perspective.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
The dichotomy has lasted weeks and is finally about to shift – but only after one more major blast of Arctic air this weekend for the East.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dichotomy
Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
But nothing landed as hard as the stand-or-sit dichotomy that the president served up.
—ABC News, 25 Feb. 2026
Interesting dichotomies for me, from my perspective.
—Alison Weinflash, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026
The dichotomy has lasted weeks and is finally about to shift – but only after one more major blast of Arctic air this weekend for the East.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dichotomy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dichotomy
paradox
Noun
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Dichotomy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dichotomy. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
