Paradoxical

//ˌpæɹəˈdɒksɪkəl// adj

adj ·Uncommon ·College level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Having self-contradictory properties.

    "It is the ambiguity of language only which can make this proposition appear either doubtful or paradoxical. When properly explained and understood, it is almost self-evident."

Adjective
  1. 1
    seemingly contradictory but nonetheless possibly true wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
abnormalabsurdambiguousambivalentanomalousantinomic

Example

More examples

"Many paradoxes are paradoxical only because they sound strange."

Etymology

From paradox + -ical.

Related phrases

paradoxical embolismparadoxical frogparadoxical intentionparadoxical rage reactionparadoxical sleepparadoxical undressingself contradictory

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.