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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Recent Examples of paradox
The Takeaway: The Power Of Humble Resolve The paradox of Level-5 leadership is a delicate balance.
—
Wayne Yu, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Denisovan paradox Denisovans were first identified in 2010 in a lab using DNA sequences extracted from a tiny fragment of finger bone found in Denisova Cave in Siberia’s Altai Mountains, which is how the group got its name.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
This tension, between authority and provocation, is one of a few defining paradoxes of the museum, built into its DNA from the very start.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
The album’s title apparently refers to the paradox of actively trying to suppress a certain thought, and in doing so, making that thought impossible not to think about.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Wayne Yu, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Denisovan paradox Denisovans were first identified in 2010 in a lab using DNA sequences extracted from a tiny fragment of finger bone found in Denisova Cave in Siberia’s Altai Mountains, which is how the group got its name.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025
This tension, between authority and provocation, is one of a few defining paradoxes of the museum, built into its DNA from the very start.
—Rachel Corbett, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2025
The album’s title apparently refers to the paradox of actively trying to suppress a certain thought, and in doing so, making that thought impossible not to think about.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for paradox
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradox
Noun
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The fear that optimizing for performance will dilute brands’ authenticity is a false dichotomy.—
Alex Khassa,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
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Sinners also offers a contemporary look into this racial dichotomy by subtly addressing the one-drop rule — a 1662 legal doctrine that declared anyone with any Black ancestry, regardless of how small, to be considered African American.—
Melanie Curry,
Refinery29,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Streep and Short’s characters got married in the fourth season of the murder mystery show and, in a too-sweet parallel, the two actors are rumored to be dating for real as well.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
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But the distribution of gold, which is heavier than iron, throughout the universe has posed a mystery to astrophysicists.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Noun
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At the same time, good hip-hop love songs are messy and irrational and full of contradictions.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
2 May 2025
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This juxtaposition—and apparent contradiction—seems to be everywhere at the moment.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
Noun
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Pool/Getty Images Europe Though the modern era has expanded humanity's knowledge in many ways, the papal conclave remains an enigma.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2025
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The Dodge Demon is a bit of an enigma, with most modern muscle cars not nearly as extreme in their quest for straight line acceleration.—
Karl Brauer,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Crumb’s gawky, eccentric persona was first revealed to the wider public in a 1994 documentary made by his friend Terry Zwigoff, which portrays the cartoonist with all of his incongruities.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
14 Apr. 2025
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Understand nuance, relational differences, and can deal with incongruity.—
Eli Amdur,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Paradox.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradox. Accessed 12 May. 2025.
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