If something is paradoxical, it involves two facts or qualities which seem to contradict each other.
Some sedatives produce the paradoxical effect of making the person more anxious.
We were a team of individuals–as paradoxical as that sounds.
Synonyms: contradictory, inconsistent, incongruous, ironic More Synonyms of paradoxical
paradoxically (pærədɒksɪkli)adverb [usu ADV with cl/group, ADVERB with verb]
Paradoxically, acceptance of this apparent injustice is the beginning of empowerment.
...a growing up that paradoxically involves remaining a child, too.
paradoxical in American English
(ˌpærəˈdɑksɪkəl)
adjective
1.
of, having the nature of, or expressing a paradox or paradoxes
2.
fond of using paradoxes
3.
seemingly full of contradictions
Derived forms
paradoxically (ˌparaˈdoxically)
adverb
paradoxicalness (ˌparaˈdoxicalness)
noun
Examples of 'paradoxical' in a sentence
paradoxical
It seems paradoxical: fewer miles driven wears out discs and pads more quickly.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
To this layman's eyes, there is something paradoxical about it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It seems paradoxical to suggest that you will discover what you want to write by writing.
Bachmann, Susan (editor) & Barth, Melinda Between Worlds: A Reader, Rhetoric and Handbook (1995)
His line gave the paradoxical effect of being at once tentative and confident.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Yet there is something paradoxical in all this.
The Sun (2006)
Something deep and paradoxical like that anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Both seem to exude a paradoxical knowledge of something that it is not quite possible to know.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This is because taking it for too long can have the paradoxical effect of making bonesmore brittle.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
At this stage, paradoxical intention seemed the last resort.
Vera Peiffer POSITIVELY FEARLESS: Breaking free of the fears that hold you back (2001)
And yet this reliance on the East had a paradoxical effect.
Jack Turner SPICE: The History of a Temptation (2004)
In a paradoxical way, economic slumps are very good for young artists and performers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This paradoxical effect is uncanny, which is why the wolf is more disturbing than any other predator.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It may seem paradoxical that an increase in taxes produces this uncertainty, but this may be explained as follows.
Tomlinson, Richard Urbanization in Post-Apartheid South Africa (1990)
Some sedatives produce the paradoxical effect of making the person more anxious, excited or aggressive than he or she was in the first place.
Knowles, Jane Know Your Own Mind (1991)
When facing a list that's longer than you are tall, the practice of stillness seems paradoxical.
Christianity Today (2000)
It seems paradoxical that mankind has almost wiped out this animal whilst taking its descendant, the dog, to its heart.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
In a paradoxical way, I think the opposite has occurred.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Further down the bureaucratic hierarchy, the classic rational image of the bureaucrat seems to prevail, but in the boundary layer something paradoxical can happen.
Low, Nicholas Politics, Planning and the State (1990)
In other languages
paradoxical
British English: paradoxical ADJECTIVE
If something is paradoxical, it involves two facts or qualities which seem to contradict each other.
Some sedatives produce the paradoxical effect of making the person more anxious.
American English: paradoxical
Brazilian Portuguese: paradoxal
Chinese: 自相矛盾的
European Spanish: paradójico
French: paradoxal
German: paradox
Italian: paradossale
Japanese: 逆説的な
Korean: 역설적인
European Portuguese: paradoxal
Latin American Spanish: paradójico
(adjective)
It seems paradoxical that some people who claim to be animal lovers still promote fox-hunting.
Synonyms
contradictory
He seems to be capable of holding a number of apparently contradictory attitudes.
inconsistent
The outburst was inconsistent with the image he had cultivated.
incongruous
She looked incongruous in an army uniform.
ironic
It's ironic that the sort of people this film celebrates would never watch it.
impossible
The Government was now in an impossible situation.
puzzling
His letter poses a number of puzzling questions.
absurd
They go to absurd lengths just to avoid paying a few pounds.
baffling
I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
riddling
ambiguous
His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week.
improbable
confounding
enigmatic
She starred in one of Welles's most enigmatic films.
illogical
his completely illogical arguments
equivocal
Her equivocal response gave nothing away.
oracular
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absurd
Definition
obviously senseless or illogical
They go to absurd lengths just to avoid paying a few pounds.
Synonyms
ridiculous,
crazy (informal),
silly,
incredible,
outrageous,
foolish,
unbelievable,
daft (informal),
hilarious,
ludicrous,
meaningless,
unreasonable,
irrational,
senseless,
preposterous,
laughable,
funny,
stupid,
farcical,
illogical,
incongruous,
comical,
zany,
idiotic,
nonsensical,
inane,
dumb-ass (slang),
cockamamie (slang, US)
in the sense of ambiguous
Definition
having more than one possible interpretation
His remarks clarify an ambiguous statement given earlier this week.
Synonyms
unclear,
puzzling,
uncertain,
obscure,
vague,
doubtful,
dubious,
enigmatic,
indefinite,
inconclusive,
cryptic,
indeterminate,
equivocal,
Delphic,
oracular,
enigmatical,
clear as mud (informal)
in the sense of baffling
I was constantly ill, with a baffling array of symptoms.
Synonyms
puzzling,
strange,
confusing,
weird,
mysterious,
unclear,
bewildering,
elusive,
enigmatic,
perplexing,
incomprehensible,
mystifying,
inexplicable,
unaccountable,
unfathomable
Synonyms of 'paradoxical'
paradoxical
Explore 'paradoxical' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of enigmatic
She starred in one of Welles's most enigmatic films.
Synonyms
mysterious,
puzzling,
obscure,
baffling,
ambiguous,
perplexing,
incomprehensible,
mystifying,
inexplicable,
unintelligible,
paradoxical,
cryptic,
inscrutable,
unfathomable,
indecipherable,
recondite,
Delphic,
oracular,
sphinxlike
in the sense of equivocal
Definition
of doubtful character or sincerity
Her equivocal response gave nothing away.
Synonyms
ambiguous,
uncertain,
misleading,
obscure,
suspicious,
vague,
doubtful,
dubious,
questionable,
ambivalent,
indefinite,
evasive,
oblique,
indeterminate,
prevaricating,
oracular
in the sense of illogical
Definition
not following logical principles
his completely illogical arguments
Synonyms
irrational,
absurd,
unreasonable,
meaningless,
incorrect,
faulty,
inconsistent,
invalid,
senseless,
spurious,
inconclusive,
unsound,
unscientific,
specious,
fallacious,
untenable,
sophistical
in the sense of impossible
Definition
absurd or unreasonable
The Government was now in an impossible situation.
Synonyms
absurd,
crazy (informal),
ridiculous,
unacceptable,
outrageous,
ludicrous,
unreasonable,
unsuitable,
intolerable,
preposterous,
laughable,
farcical,
illogical,
insoluble,
unanswerable,
inadmissible,
ungovernable
in the sense of incongruous
Definition
out of place
She looked incongruous in an army uniform.
Synonyms
inappropriate,
absurd,
out of place,
conflicting,
contrary,
contradictory,
inconsistent,
unsuitable,
improper,
incompatible,
discordant,
incoherent,
extraneous,
unsuited,
unbecoming,
out of keeping,
inapt,
disconsonant,
paradoxical,
ironic
in the sense of inconsistent
Definition
not in accordance
The outburst was inconsistent with the image he had cultivated.
Synonyms
incompatible,
conflicting,
contrary,
at odds,
contradictory,
in conflict,
incongruous,
discordant,
incoherent,
out of step,
irreconcilable,
at variance,
discrepant,
inconstant,
vagarious (rare)
in the sense of ironic
Definition
of, characterized by, or using irony
It's ironic that the sort of people this film celebrates would never watch it.