paradoxical
Americanadjective
-
having the nature of a paradox; self-contradictory.
-
Medicine/Medical. not being the normal or usual kind.
Stimulants are a paradoxical, albeit effective, medication used for certain forms of hyperactivity.
Other Word Forms
- nonparadoxical adjective
- nonparadoxicalness noun
- paradoxicality noun
- paradoxically adverb
- paradoxicalness noun
- ultraparadoxical adjective
- unparadoxal adjective
- unparadoxical adjective
Etymology
Origin of paradoxical
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The market’s more recent angst, however, is somewhat paradoxical.
From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026
Former U.K. and Canada central banker White frets about the paradoxical relationship in the U.S. between the administration of Donald Trump and the dollar.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 7, 2026
I’m skeptical but paradoxical evidence has emerged in recent days that Netflix’s mostly cash bid may be sincere.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025
This result is clearly paradoxical for two reasons.
From Science Daily • Nov. 2, 2025
It’s paradoxical that an ordinary man like Nemur presumes to devote himself to making other people geniuses.
From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
