PARADOX: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for PARADOX?

Need another word that means the same as “paradox”? Find 7 synonyms and 30 related words for “paradox” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Paradox” are: contradiction, contradiction in terms, self-contradiction, inconsistency, incongruity, anomaly, conflict

Paradox as a Noun

Definitions of "Paradox" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “paradox” as a noun can have the following definitions:

• A seemingly absurd or contradictory statement or proposition which when investigated may prove to be well founded or true.
• A statement that contradicts itself.
• (logic) a statement that contradicts itself.
• A person or thing that combines contradictory features or qualities.
• A statement or proposition which, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems logically unacceptable or self-contradictory.

Synonyms of "Paradox" as a noun (7 Words)

anomaly	(astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun. The position abounds in anomaly.
conflict	A state of opposition between persons or ideas or interests. There was a conflict between his business and domestic life.
contradiction	(logic) a statement that is necessarily false. The second sentence appears to be in flat contradiction of the first.
contradiction in terms	Opposition between two conflicting forces or ideas.
incongruity	The state of being incongruous; incompatibility. The incongruity of his fleshy face and skinny body disturbed her.
inconsistency	An inconsistent aspect or element. The inconsistency between his expressed attitudes and his actual behaviour.
self-contradiction	Contradicting yourself.

Usage Examples of "Paradox" as a noun

• Cathedrals face the paradox of having enormous wealth in treasures but huge annual expenses.
• The uncertainty principle leads to all sorts of paradoxes, like the particles being in two places at once.
• Parmenides was the original advocate of the philosophical power of paradox.
• `I always lie' is a paradox because if it is true it must be false.
• The liar paradox.

Associations of "Paradox" (30 Words)

ambivalence	The state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone. The law s ambivalence about the importance of a victim s identity.
antinomy	A contradiction between two statements that seem equally reasonable. There are not many short novels capable of accommodating bewildering antinomies.
charade	A word acted out in an episode of the game of charades. Talk of unity was nothing more than a charade.
conflicting	Incompatible or at variance; contradictory. Conflicting opinions.
contradiction	A situation in which inconsistent elements are present. He spoke as if he thought his claims were immune to contradiction.
contradictory	A contradictory proposition. Contradictory attributes of unjust justice and loving vindictiveness.
cynicism	A school of ancient Greek philosophers, the Cynics. Cynicism about the future.
derision	Contemptuous ridicule or mockery. My stories were greeted with derision and disbelief.
discrepant	Not in agreement. The reasons for these discrepant results are unclear.
disjunction	The relation of two distinct alternatives. There is a disjunction between the skills taught in education and those demanded in the labour market.
incompatible	Incapable of being used with or connected to other devices or components without modification. Long hours are simply incompatible with family life.
inconsistency	The quality of being inconsistent and lacking a harmonious uniformity among things or parts. The inconsistency between his expressed attitudes and his actual behaviour.
inconsistent	Not capable of being made consistent or harmonious. Inconsistent statements cannot both be true at the same time.
ironic	Using or characterized by irony. His mouth curved into an ironic smile.
irony	The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect. Don t go overboard with the gratitude he rejoined with heavy irony.
irreverence	An irreverent mental attitude. An attitude of irreverence towards politicians.
lampoon	A speech or text lampooning someone or something. The actor was lampooned by the press.
mockery	An absurd misrepresentation or imitation of something. Stung by her mockery Frankie hung his head.
opposing	Characterized by active hostility. The opposing team.
oxymoron	Conjoining contradictory terms (as in `deafening silence.
paradoxical	Seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true. By glorifying the acts of violence they achieve the paradoxical effect of making them trivial.
parody	Make a parody of. His speciality was parodying schoolgirl fiction.
ridicule	Subject to laughter or ridicule. The satirists ridiculed the plans for a new opera house.
sarcasm	Witty language used to convey insults or scorn–Jonathan Swif. He used sarcasm to upset his opponent.
sarcastic	Marked by or given to using irony in order to mock or convey contempt. I think they re being sarcastic.
satire	A genre of literature characterized by the use of satire. A number of articles on Elizabethan satire.
satirical	Sarcastic, critical, and mocking another’s weaknesses. His satirical sense of humour.
satirize	Deride and criticize by means of satire. The movie satirized the notion of national superiority.
spoof	Make a parody of. The students spoofed the teachers.
travesty	Make a travesty of. The absurdly lenient sentence is a travesty of justice.