paradoxes

noun

plural of paradox
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 paradoxes Yet, one of leadership’s great paradoxes is that slowing down enough to invest in people is often what ultimately enables teams and organizations to move faster. — Michael Corvini, Forbes.com, 6 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 Along the way, Halliwell tackles some of the field’s deepest paradoxes. — Quanta Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026 Among the paradoxes inherent in our unique health care system is the observation that American health care is the best in the world, and also the most complicated and costly. — Matt Soper, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2026 The argument about finances produced one of the hearing’s central paradoxes. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026 Hinduism is a narrative religion; its mercurial wisdom is lightened and sweetened by stories, softened by ambiguities, sharpened by paradoxes. — Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 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 Sometimes the irony turns bitter and, with a typically Eastern European sensibility, highlights the paradoxes of institutions, as well as the madness and meanness born from the pursuit and preservation of power. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for paradoxes
  1. contradictions
  2. mysteries
  3. incongruities
  4. enigmas
  5. dichotomies
Noun
  • The characterological contradictions in this scene alone speak volumes about who Sam Altman is.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The number of independent sources matters, as do their authority, consistency, frequency and absence of contradictions.
    — Alona Karpinska, Forbes.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of contradictions
Noun
  • The resort also has its own resident marine biologist, Nairika, who works alongside the dive center to help guests better understand the many mysteries of the ocean on their doorstep.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Yet, despite these extraordinary advances, the brain still holds countless mysteries, with much more left to learn and discover and optogenetics has given us a powerful means to take on these challenges.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of mysteries
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
  • Petzold marvelled at the incongruities.
    — Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of incongruities
Noun
  • PBHs could help resolve other enigmas, too, for instance by acting as seeds for the rapid growth of supermassive black holes in the early universe.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Its findings could also unlock clues about dark energy and dark matter, and some of the universe’s biggest enigmas.
    — Denise Chow, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of enigmas
Noun
  • Farnaby’s work on projects like Paddington 2, Wonka and Ghosts well captures these kinds of dichotomies.
    — Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
  • One of the most persistent false dichotomies in tech policy is the belief that protecting users, particularly minors, requires invading their privacy.
    — Erin Mote, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of dichotomies

Browse Nearby Words

paradox
paradoxes
paragliding
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Paradoxes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/paradoxes. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of Luddite

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All