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

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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 The science behind a paradox While in the clinic, Carleton began studying a years-old question in the lab. — Allessandra Dicorato, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026 While field recording is typically a solitary activity, Jensen embraces the alone-together paradox of building a community around a bunch of people wearing headphones. — Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 The way secrets can either pull people close or push them away is an enticing paradox. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 That transformation captures one of the paradoxes at the heart of the history of waste. — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
  1. dichotomy
  2. mystery
  3. contradiction
  4. enigma
  5. incongruity
Noun
  • This dichotomy underscored the paradox of the administration’s crackdown on legal immigration.
    — Editorial Board, Washington Post, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The dichotomy of tourism and commerce keeps this location appealing for those seeking an authentic submersion in the city.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • To get to the bottom of the mystery of the article’s spurious dating, Cade and a team of researchers from around the globe sifted through historic reports and observations of geomagnetic activity to set the record straight.
    — Mike McRae October 15, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In the first, a best-selling mystery author dies, and Benoit Blanc, a charismatic and inquisitive private eye played by Daniel Craig, must investigate.
    — New York Times, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • The film explores the contradictions of a Bulgarian town pulled into Europe’s shifting geopolitical order, where arms production for Ukraine’s frontlines collides with enduring ties to Russia, personal convictions, and the everyday need to survive.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
  • All these contradictions are evident in Fujairah’s boom, where its geographic blessing offers no immunity from conflict.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • The enigma of comets and asteroids lured the world’s space agencies into funding a series of robotic probes to study them.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Menopause, despite being a fact of life for most women, is something of a scientific enigma.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • Both shows attempted to offer a perspective on authentic Italian style, with Milan's incongruities as an underlying theme.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Listeners seemed to delight in the incongruity—a semipopular rapper suddenly sounded nothing like himself.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of incongruity

Browse Nearby Words

paradisiacal
paradox
paradoxes
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Cite this Entry

“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

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