paradoxical

Rarely par·a·dox·al

[par-uh-dok-si-kuhl]

adjective

1. having the nature of a paradox; self-contradictory.

2. 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

• paradoxically adverb
• paradoxicality noun
• paradoxicalness noun
• nonparadoxical adjective
• nonparadoxicalness noun
• ultraparadoxical adjective
• unparadoxal adjective
• unparadoxical adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of paradoxical¹

paradox + -ical

Example Sentences

This paradoxical organization emerged from the ruined cities and gas chambers of World War II with the explicit goal of making sure that no destructive conflict on that scale would ever happen again.

From Salon

It might seem paradoxical that Gilbert considers herself an environmentalist while standing in the way of what most environmentalists today see as progress.

From Salon

In the longer term, there also may be a paradoxical effects on wages, especially in California, Texas and Florida, according to a forthcoming research paper in the American Economic Review titled “Immigration, Innovation and Growth.”

From Los Angeles Times

Fast forward to 2025, and a paradoxical shift has occurred in Canada's relationship with the Crown.

From BBC

Torres captures a paradoxical mix of motherly strength and unspoken terror, and her performance provides a fascinating look at the brutal impact of authoritarianism on the individual.

From Salon

Related Words

• adverse 
• antithetical 
• conflicting 
• contradictory 
• discordant 
• hostile 
• inconsistent 
• inimical 
• negative 
• opposed 
• wrongheaded