as in contradictions
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 paradoxes
It can be built, measured, and lived through five core competencies—each of which enables HR to manage paradoxes rather than collapse them.
—
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Especially because the paradoxes only get stronger from Scorpio to Pisces.
—Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025
Through awe-inspiring visuals and a narration from the filmmaker combining poetry, science and emotions, the film explores the paradoxes of our time.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
This engagement was rife with paradoxes and contradictions.
—Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Normally, going back in time introduces all sorts of nasty paradoxes, like the infamous grandfather paradox, or, less violently, inconsistent histories.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Jan. 2025
These paradoxes twist around the game like briars around an enchanted tower; at the window stands the dungeon master.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024
Emily regaled the group with explanations of fractals and infinity paradoxes.
—Hazlitt, 9 Dec. 2024
In the City of Angels and Broken Dreams – Los Angeles – polarization and paradoxes are lurking around every corner.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Especially because the paradoxes only get stronger from Scorpio to Pisces.
—Colin Bedell, Them., 17 Sep. 2025
Through awe-inspiring visuals and a narration from the filmmaker combining poetry, science and emotions, the film explores the paradoxes of our time.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
This engagement was rife with paradoxes and contradictions.
—Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Normally, going back in time introduces all sorts of nasty paradoxes, like the infamous grandfather paradox, or, less violently, inconsistent histories.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 25 Jan. 2025
These paradoxes twist around the game like briars around an enchanted tower; at the window stands the dungeon master.
—Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2024
Emily regaled the group with explanations of fractals and infinity paradoxes.
—Hazlitt, 9 Dec. 2024
In the City of Angels and Broken Dreams – Los Angeles – polarization and paradoxes are lurking around every corner.
—Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradoxes
Noun
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One can make the case that many voters are also willing to be selective in their vision—the right’s defense of free speech gathered steam despite the Republican Party suffering from even more seemingly intractable internal contradictions on the issue.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
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Still, there are curious contradictions to Twigs.—
Shirley Halperin,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Also, any excuse to watch Bill Nighy, who stars as Doctor Lazarus, whose death plunges his forensic psychologist son (Sam Clafin) into a labyrinth of family mysteries.—
Emily Temple
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Director Jean-François Poisson’s film centers on the lingering questions and mysteries surrounding the demise of the Expos.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over time, the fate of the footage has become one of the biggest enigmas in Hollywood history.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Unexplained aerial phenomena, commonly branded as UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and more recently as UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), remain one of history’s most enduring enigmas.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Desai’s multipart meet-cute lets her challenge neat old-world–new-world dichotomies.—
Sanjena Sathian,
Vulture,
23 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paradoxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradoxes. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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