What does paradoxical mean?
Paradoxical describes something that contains an apparent contradiction or seems contrary to ordinary expectations. A paradoxical situation may look impossible at first, yet its contradiction can expose an important truth, a hidden tension, or a question worth examining. The word is often used for ideas that challenge common assumptions, such as the paradoxical claim that knowledge comes through doubt or that freedom creates new forms of responsibility. It is more precise than simply calling something strange, because it highlights a meaningful conflict between apparently incompatible ideas. In everyday use, “paradoxical” can sometimes describe a result or reaction that is unexpectedly contradictory, but its strongest connotation is intellectual and thought-provoking. It is especially common in discussions of philosophy, literature, science, and social behavior.
adjectiveCharacterized by a paradox or by an apparent contradiction that seems impossible or illogical. It may describe a situation, statement, or effect whose contradictory features are deliberate or illuminating.
- Characterized by an apparent contradiction or by a seeming impossibility.
- Unexpected or contrary to what one would normally think.
"The novel explores the paradoxical relationship between freedom and responsibility."
"It is paradoxical that greater choice can sometimes make people less satisfied."
"The speaker offered a paradoxical observation about the nature of happiness."
A paradox can make logic collide with itself; a paradoxical idea can be wrong at the same time that it reveals something profound.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paradoxical come from?
The adjective paradoxical is derived from paradox, which comes through Latin from Greek paradoxos, meaning “contrary to expectation” or “contrary to opinion.” The Greek elements para- and doxa relate to “beyond” or “contrary” and “opinion” or “belief.” English borrowed paradox in the 16th century, and the adjectival form paradoxical developed from the same root. Its modern meaning preserves the original sense of something that challenges expectation.
How paradoxical is actually used
The word is formal and commonly suggests a thought-provoking contradiction rather than merely careless inconsistency. British and American pronunciations differ in the vowel sound of the final syllable.
Easily confused with paradoxical
A paradox is a statement or situation that appears to contradict itself or common expectations, whereas paradoxical is an adjective describing something characterized by such a contradiction.