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 only problem is, negotiating and understanding the subsequent paradoxes — which writer/director Shane Carruth made little effort to simplify — requires a PhD in high-level physics.
—
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
These paradoxes have defined—or plagued—the theory since its inception more than a century ago.
—Tim Folger, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026
The ancient Greek philosopher Zeno used it to concoct all sorts of paradoxes.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 25 Feb. 2026
Those paradoxes of her personality?
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Dec. 2025
Yet the strategy document inadvertently illustrates the internal contradictions and the paradoxes of the world Trump wants.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025
And the most powerful constraints are often paradoxes that can’t be resolved — only engaged.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
In a hotel room, a melancholy sabra in his forties muses over the paradoxes of the historical destiny of the Jews.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
The film lays bare the tensions and paradoxes of nuclear deterrence, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, which advocates for nuclear arms control.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
These paradoxes have defined—or plagued—the theory since its inception more than a century ago.
—Tim Folger, Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2026
The ancient Greek philosopher Zeno used it to concoct all sorts of paradoxes.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 25 Feb. 2026
Those paradoxes of her personality?
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 11 Dec. 2025
Yet the strategy document inadvertently illustrates the internal contradictions and the paradoxes of the world Trump wants.
—Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2025
And the most powerful constraints are often paradoxes that can’t be resolved — only engaged.
—Big Think, 27 Oct. 2025
In a hotel room, a melancholy sabra in his forties muses over the paradoxes of the historical destiny of the Jews.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
The film lays bare the tensions and paradoxes of nuclear deterrence, said Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, which advocates for nuclear arms control.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradoxes
Noun
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Kaplan mines Mitford’s own writings, her family letters and photos, plus archives to detail each phase of this multifaceted life, illuminating along the way her loves, losses, loyalties and confounding contradictions.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
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But contradictions are palpable.—
Fabiano Maisonnave,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These are some of life’s great mysteries.—
Hannah Madlener,
Glamour,
24 Apr. 2026
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Balls and strikes are simple, at least compared to the mysteries of goalie interference.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Petzold marvelled at the incongruities.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
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Ridge’s equal deftness at the high end and the low is one of many apparent incongruities that the winery has managed to balance comfortably.—
Senior Wine Critic,
San Francisco Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Toss in plenty of brutal murders, bizarre prophecies, time-bending enigmas, and haunting hallucinations — all seemingly tied to Lucy’s mysterious meetings with the Hannibal Lecter-like Gideon Shepherd (Peter Capaldi) — and this one's well worth losing six hours of sleep over.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Apr. 2026
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Simpson has been one of the biggest enigmas in this year’s draft.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Honestly, everything about Bob Weir was dichotomies.—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
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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 29 Apr. 2026.
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