Pronunciation: /ˈpærəˌdɑks/
noun a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth
A1 The idea of jumbo shrimp is a paradox because shrimp are supposed to be small.
A2 She couldn't believe the paradox of feeling both happy and sad at the same time.
B1 The concept of time travel creates a paradox in which the past affects the future.
B2 The paradox of choice suggests that having too many options can actually make decision-making more difficult.
C1 The paradox of tolerance states that if a society is tolerant without limit, their ability to be tolerant will eventually be seized or destroyed by the intolerant.
C2 The grandfather paradox in time travel theory questions what would happen if a time traveler were to go back in time and prevent their own grandparents from meeting, thus preventing their own birth.
formal The concept of time travel presents a paradox in physics.
informal It's a paradox that the more you try to save money, the more you end up spending.
slang It's a total mind-bender that she said she hates drama but always seems to be in the middle of it.
figurative His success in the business world was a paradox considering his humble beginnings.
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