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 paradox of choice means piling on more options will not get you there, so the answer is a little structure, not a bigger pile. — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 23 June 2026 Embracing the uncertainty paradox requires courage but ultimately enables better outcomes. — James G. Naples, Fortune, 27 June 2026 The tokenized real-world assets market, valued at $60 billion across 7,000 products, faces a significant activity paradox. — Aaron Stanley, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Housed in remote data centers whose energy-intensive maintenance perpetuates the changing environmental conditions that threaten Tuvalu’s existence, the attempt to redeposit territory digitally drives home the paradoxes, and costs, of storage. — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
  1. dichotomy
  2. mystery
  3. contradiction
  4. enigma
  5. incongruity
Noun
  • Thomas said there’s a dichotomy in the league’s attempts to prioritize player safety on the court while ignoring their concerns off the court.
    — Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 1 July 2026
  • This kind of relationship made the lives of people living in ancient times unproblematic in terms of the dichotomy between the transcendent and the space of reality.
    — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
Definition of dichotomy
Noun
  • The aesthetic details of what will happen beyond the loading docks have been shrouded in mystery.
    — Meriam Bouarrouj, NBC news, 4 July 2026
  • Now, the historical society hopes community members hold the final missing pieces to the mystery.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of mystery
Noun
  • The Declaration of Independence, signed in 1776, is infamous for a contradiction.
    — James Doubek, NPR, 3 July 2026
  • Jefferson’s contradictions date back through much of American history; he was claimed by both sides of the Civil War and both sides of the civil rights movement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
Definition of contradiction
Noun
  • SpaceX, however, took the flexible lockup approach, wrapped it in a puzzle, strapped it to an enigma, and sent it to live in a colony on Mars.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 3 July 2026
  • In 2024, now grown and with her adoptive father’s approval, the young woman sets off with a wealthy merchant to piece together the historical enigmas surrounding the ancient Sumpa kingdom.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 20 June 2026
Definition of enigma
Noun
  • 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
  • Nobody is more alive to the comic incongruity than the man himself.
    — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 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 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on paradox

Nglish: Translation of paradox for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about paradox

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