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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of paradox
Overcoming Africa’s prosperity paradox will require breaking down structural barriers to prosperity creation across the continent.
—
Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Virtual particles are a striking paradox of modern physics.
—Dipangkar Dutta, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
That paradox is central to Swift’s gestalt.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Yet how to solve the paradox presented by transition minerals?
—Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Kingsley Moghalu, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Virtual particles are a striking paradox of modern physics.
—Dipangkar Dutta, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
That paradox is central to Swift’s gestalt.
—Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Yet how to solve the paradox presented by transition minerals?
—Scott W. Stern, The Atlantic, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
Noun
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All under Guadagnino’s scrupulous direction and cinematographer Malik Sayeed’s (Belly) visualization, the performative guise of Ivy League school decorum delivers as the perfect dichotomy to the serious nature of what these characters put each other through.—
Malik Peay,
Essence,
9 Oct. 2025
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The house’s spectacle in Grand Palais and fashion show is rooted in technological, futuristic and artisanal imaginations, while experiencing a dichotomy with the reinvention of clothing, which carries a sensitive memory of the past — projecting a constellation of colors, codes and values.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The story behind how Rudolph morphed into history’s most prolific killer during his tenure as commandant of Nazi Germany’s most notorious camp is still something of a mystery to his grandson.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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But Australian stories are still resonating with international audiences and many of the recent breakout hits have a mystery at their heart or offer a laugh with a bit of bite.—
Paul Chai,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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And the episode laid bare some messy contradictions, as America seeks to stand up an EV-and-battery business that can compete against China.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
9 Oct. 2025
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For instance, why did the offense experience so many extended lulls against opposing bullpens (even as, in another contradiction, its overall performance against bullpens was in line with 2024)?—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Proctor has been somewhat of an enigma.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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To voters, Starmer remains an enigma.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Some of the hangars are used as soundstages, and Linklater pointed out an old air-traffic-control tower, jutting, with pleasing retro-futurist incongruity, out of a public plaza.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 Sep. 2025
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So the incongruity might be coming from a place of the myth of meritocracy.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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