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
In a sense, that paradox is what made Michael Jackson a pop god.
—
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 3 June 2026
But the Commanders, Vikings and Eagles were not the only ones presenting a paradox to the celebration of gays with the orthodoxy of the Muslim religion on Monday.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
This is the paradox of modern life.
—Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
There’s something called the vulnerability paradox.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Rodney Carmichael, NPR, 3 June 2026
But the Commanders, Vikings and Eagles were not the only ones presenting a paradox to the celebration of gays with the orthodoxy of the Muslim religion on Monday.
—Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026
This is the paradox of modern life.
—Bybryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
There’s something called the vulnerability paradox.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
Noun
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Spielberg has explored this dichotomy before.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
9 June 2026
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The address presented a dichotomy of Obama’s traditional attempts to inspire optimism while also warning his belief that democracy was showing signs of gradual erosion.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
Noun
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In addition to her work on BBC Radio 1, King co-hosts the podcast Novel Idea with Matt Edmondson, where the pair collaborate on writing a mystery novel, with each episode serving as a new chapter.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
11 June 2026
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For new discoveries, everyday mysteries, and the science behind the headlines, follow NPR’s Short Wave podcast.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
11 June 2026
Noun
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Styled by Leith Clark, the Chloé fall 2026 ethereal number is a study in contradictions with its voluminous silhouette that leaves little to the imagination.—
Diana Tsui,
Footwear News,
4 June 2026
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Questlove is too much of a humanist to soft-pedal’s Maurice White’s contradictions.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Noun
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Even at the height of his fame, there were dubious aspects of his personal life — often self-seeded to sustain his enigma — that poked hellified holes in his impermeability as an entertainer.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
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Despite the city and Heal the Bay forming a Santa Monica Pier Task Force, adding netting to deter birds, and taking other measures to improve the water quality, the root of the problem remains an enigma.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
20 May 2026
Noun
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Nobody is more alive to the comic incongruity than the man himself.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
8 May 2026
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During the talk, Brooks joked about the seeming incongruity of teaching courses in emotional realism under the shingle of a public policy school.—
Erin Vanderhoof,
Vanity Fair,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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