paradoxically

[ par-uh-dok-sik-lee ]

adverb

1. in a self-contradictory or seemingly self-contradictory way:

   Paradoxically, the more we know, the more we identify an increasing number of questions to which we as yet have no answers.

Other Words From

• non·par·a·dox·i·cal·ly adverb
• ul·tra·par·a·dox·i·cal·ly adverb
• un·par·a·dox·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of paradoxically¹

paradoxical ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

In “Free Guy,” Reynolds takes center stage as a bank teller in an online game who paradoxically develops autonomy only after he realizes — shades of “The Matrix” — that he has no autonomy.

From Washington Post

The vaccine appears to boost immunity in some situations, but paradoxically, BCG may also calm an overactive immune system.

From Science News

Economists initially observed that, somewhat paradoxically, economic growth did not reliably increase a country’s happiness.

From FiveThirtyEight

That’s especially true given that some researchers think that constantly trying to avoid boredom paradoxically makes you more bored.

From Popular-Science

Bush argues that Goths’ success in aging has a lot to do with their ability to juggle opposing, seemingly paradoxical energies.

From Washington Post

Yet for a vivid decade or so, sleaze was, somewhat paradoxically, a force for literacy and empowerment.

From The Daily Beast

That reactivity paradoxically is what makes its sudden coming and going mysterious.

From The Daily Beast

Paradoxically, it will increase the risk that Ebola will spread in those countries and to other countries.

From The Daily Beast

Paradoxically, it was never proved that Hart and Rice had sex.

From The Daily Beast

Paradoxically, that strength has put us into a very vulnerable position.

From The Daily Beast

Bierce, paradoxically, combined the bizarre in substance, the severely restrained and compressed in form.

From Project Gutenberg

"I'm too Irish for that," he said, rather paradoxically, I thought.

From Project Gutenberg

So the joy that the singer gave out went to gladden the world, and that which she gave, paradoxically enough, remained with her.

From Project Gutenberg

Disintegration itself—in a paradoxically pathetic attempt at reconstruction—had built Glendale.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes, in those conversations, she was somewhat paradoxically impelled to defend her sister.

From Project Gutenberg