paradox

What does “paradox” mean?

noun.a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement.

SAT Usage

this term often appears in passages discussing philosophical concepts, literature, or complex social dynamics. It emphasizes the complexity and nuance of situations where two opposing ideas coexist, highlighting irony or deeper truths, which sets it apart from simpler contradictions that lack this deeper significance.

Common Confusions

Paradox implies a complex situation where two opposing ideas coexist, while contradiction usually suggests a straightforward clash between two statements that cannot both be true.

Example Sentences

• It is a paradox that resting sometimes makes you more tired.

• Not having a fashion is a fashion; that's a paradox.

• It is a paradox that in our quest for efficiency, we often create systems that are more complicated and less effective.