paradoxically

American

[par-uh-dok-sik-lee] / ˌpær əˈdɒk sɪk li /

adverb

in a self-contradictory or seemingly self-contradictory way.

Paradoxically, the more we know, the more we identify an increasing number of questions to which we as yet have no answers.

Other Word Forms

nonparadoxically adverb
ultraparadoxically adverb
unparadoxically adverb

Etymology

Origin of paradoxically

paradoxical ( def. ) + -ly

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.

To boost the number of registered players and try to win over the International Olympic Committee, the sport has, paradoxically, had to step away from snow.

From Barron's

He says that companies that could debut this year paradoxically have both high market capitalizations and the potential to be mega-growers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Boric’s progressive tilt paradoxically illustrated the firmness of Chile’s mining commitment.

From Barron's

The problem for Rocket Lab was, paradoxically, a successful space launch.

From Barron's

Covert actions can actually support diplomacy by showing an enemy that armed conflict would fail and, paradoxically, lead to de-escalation, say practitioners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023