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

Yet true to his Ancient Greek lineage, this Oedipus is nothing if not paradoxical, suavely enjoying his privilege while brandishing his egalitarian views.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This result is clearly paradoxical for two reasons.

Read more on Science Daily

It’s a paradoxical quality of horror films that to be an outsider either qualifies you as a hero or the monster — the insiders are usually just food.

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It might seem paradoxical, but returning to a gold standard would result in much less volatility in the global gold market.

Read more on Barron's

In the end, the paradoxical title "I Want to Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" may, in fact, be another way of saying, "I want to live."

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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