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
The dirtbag who accidentally became a billionaire and then gave it all away reminds us that some paradoxes are meant to be lived with, not solved.
—
Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 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
That Russia can maintain its forward momentum on the battlefield despite catastrophic losses is one of the great paradoxes of the wider war.
—David Axe, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 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
That Russia can maintain its forward momentum on the battlefield despite catastrophic losses is one of the great paradoxes of the wider war.
—David Axe, Forbes, 27 Nov. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradoxes
Noun
-
As a discipline, advertising is beset by all sorts of weird internal contradictions, although that’s probably to be expected, given the thankless job commercials are tasked with carrying out.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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His contradictions are out in the open.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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But she's also got her own mysteries to solve.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Sep. 2025
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The planet’s extreme inhospitality is at the heart of one of the most beguiling mysteries in planetary science.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Over time, the fate of the footage has become one of the biggest enigmas in Hollywood history.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Paradoxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradoxes. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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