What does paradoxicality mean?
Paradoxicality names the quality of being paradoxical: the condition of saying or believing something that appears to contradict itself, or to run contrary to ordinary expectation. Unlike paradox, which can refer to a particular puzzling statement, paradoxicality is an abstract noun emphasizing a broader quality or mode of thought. The word is especially useful in philosophy, theology, literary criticism, and writing about human behaviour, where it can describe the coexistence of apparently incompatible truths. For example, someone may speak of the paradoxicality of a life devoted both to self-sacrifice and self-preservation. In this use, the term does not necessarily mean that a literal logical contradiction has been proved; it often signals an apparent tension that invites reconsideration. The expression is formal and intellectually flavoured, and “paradoxical” or “paradox” will usually sound more natural in ordinary discussion. Nevertheless, paradoxicality is valuable when the focus is not on one paradox but on a persistent quality of contradiction, ambiguity, or unexpected self-reference.
nounThe quality or state of being paradoxical, especially of appearing self-contradictory or contrary to ordinary expectation.
- The quality or state of being paradoxical, especially of appearing self-contradictory or contrary to ordinary expectation.
"The paradoxicality of the aphorism lies in its apparent claim that certainty comes only through doubt."
"The paradoxicality of the argument challenged the audience to question its basic assumptions."
"Her novel explores the paradoxicality of a life spent both resisting and seeking belonging."
The plural is grammatical but uncommon; the singular is normally preferred.
"The critic identifies several paradoxicalities in the play's treatment of time."
A paradox is the knot; paradoxicality is the curious habit of tying it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does paradoxicality come from?
English formed paradoxicality by combining the adjective paradoxical with the suffix -ity, which creates an abstract noun denoting a quality. Its base word is paradox, from Latin paradoxus, a borrowing of Greek paradoxos, “contrary to opinion,” built from para- (“beside” or “contrary to”) and doxa (“opinion” or “belief”). Related English forms include paradox, paradoxical, and paradoxically.
Related word forms
How paradoxicality is actually used
Formal and relatively uncommon. In ordinary discussion, “paradox” or “paradoxical” will usually sound more natural, while “paradoxicality” is useful when the focus is on a broader quality of contradiction or unexpected self-reference.
Easily confused with paradoxicality
A paradox is a particular statement or situation that appears self-contradictory or puzzling, whereas paradoxicality is the broader quality of being paradoxical.
Paradoxical is the adjective describing something that is paradoxical, while paradoxicality is the noun naming that quality.