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 is that school shooters tend to be children already affiliated with the school, and when someone walks in already firing, checkpoints and metal detectors are useless.
—
James Densley, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
The paradox is why, if reform that breaks up large estates and redistributes land to small farmers has pronounced advantages for the economy as a whole, it has so rarely been achieved.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Those paradoxes of her personality?
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Dec. 2025
Biohacking represents potential and paradox.
—Ascend Agency, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paradox
James Densley, The Conversation, 17 Dec. 2025
The paradox is why, if reform that breaks up large estates and redistributes land to small farmers has pronounced advantages for the economy as a whole, it has so rarely been achieved.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
Those paradoxes of her personality?
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Dec. 2025
Biohacking represents potential and paradox.
—Ascend Agency, Mercury News, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
Noun
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Wednesday’s game embodied the dichotomy of Vučević’s role on the Bulls.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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Her experience represents the dichotomy of the J-1 visa, at times an indelible, life-altering opportunity to travel to a new country, meet people from all over the world and earn a little money along the way.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Sheep Detectives in theaters, May 8 Yes, the detectives are literally sheep, who are moved to solve the mystery of their shepherd’s (Hugh Jackman) murder.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
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The biggest mystery of the 2025 San Francisco 49ers has been why Sigle was not able to see the field in the second half of the year.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Tracing Bundy’s reign of terror over the years, Rule grapples with the contradictions of the killer.—
Rebecca Hannigan,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
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But Semprevivo, pointing out several contradictions or inaccuracies on things like dates, said Powell had ample opportunity to correct the deposition record and failed to do so.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Their sudden exit from the fossil record has remained one of anthropology’s most enduring enigmas, until now.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Dec. 2025
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However, both teams have been an enigma since then, with neither putting up inspiring performances.—
Jordan Mendoza,
USA Today,
19 Dec. 2025
Noun
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In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
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That creates a certain level of incongruity on those campuses.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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