paradox

noun

ˈper-ə-ˌdäks How to pronounce paradox (audio)
Definition of paradoxnext
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

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 paradox Healthcare leaders often lack formal management training, creating a paradox where excellent practitioners struggle with leadership demands. — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 This apparent paradox is part of what drew Dudley Lamming, co-author of the new review and a researcher of aging, to study protein in the diet and its effects on health. — Dominique Mosbergen, Time, 3 Aug. 2026 My son, Gio, born on Bourdain’s 44th birthday—June 25, 2000, two weeks after Kitchen Confidential hit the New York Times best-seller list—captured this paradox hilariously one evening. — Karen Rinaldi, Air Mail, 1 Aug. 2026 But Raman's fractured relationship with the DSA has become the defining paradox of her candidacy here in LA. — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 29 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
  1. dichotomy
  2. mystery
  3. contradiction
  4. enigma
  5. incongruity
Noun
  • But the dichotomy of experiences in one cafeteria is not lost on her.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 3 Aug. 2026
  • But Musical Bodies is not limited to this characteristically Western dichotomy and the Enlightenment discourse that fostered it.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • For now, the investors behind the Terrasse project remain a mystery.
    — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Scientists have spent years trying to understand how an animal — this animal — can survive for centuries, and a new study has now added another layer to the mystery that surrounds these predators by looking directly at their heart.
    — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • For more than 36 years, the MX-5 Miata has stood as a delightful contradiction in the automotive world.
    — Peter Lyon, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • There are few places where contradictions between the president's boasts and the economic reality of his tariffs are more likely to collide ahead of November's midterm elections than in battleground Michigan, which holds its primary on Tuesday.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • On top of that, Perel said, the kinds of communities and rituals people traditionally relied on when facing enigma and loss aren’t so common anymore.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026
  • The drawer at the bottom of your oven can be a surprising enigma.
    — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • The passing of 30 years has only enhanced the appeal of the group’s Nashville detour, shifting attention from the incongruity of Ween cutting a country record to the joyous chemistry between these old pros and young punks.
    — Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Pitchfork, 1 Aug. 2026
  • Irony involves incongruity, while tragicomedy is about possible congruity—not mutual erasure but the capacity for the tragic and comic to coexist.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 14 June 2026
Definition of incongruity

Browse Nearby Words

paradisiacal
paradox
paradoxes
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 7 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Nglish: Translation of paradox for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of invidious

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All