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paradox

noun [C or U]
 
 
/ˈpær.ə.dɒks/ US  /ˈper.ə.dɑːks/

Definition

C2 a situation or statement that seems impossible or is difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics: [+ that] It's a curious paradox that drinking a lot of water can often make you feel thirsty.Logic and reasonDifficult to understandComplicated and difficult to doPuzzle and confuse paradoxical
 
 
/ˌpær.əˈdɒk.sɪ.kəl/ US  /ˌper.əˈdɑːk-/ adjective
C2 It seems paradoxical to me, but if you drink a cup of hot tea it seems to cool you down.Logic and reasonDifficult to understandComplicated and difficult to doPuzzle and confuse
paradoxically
 
 
/ˌpær.əˈdɒk.sɪ.kəl.i/ US  /ˌper.əˈdɑːk-/ adverb
Logic and reasonDifficult to understandComplicated and difficult to doPuzzle and confuse
(Definition of paradox noun from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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