PARADOX

Paradox

A paradox is a statement that apparently contradicts itself and yet might be true. Most logical paradoxes are known to be invalid arguments but are still valuable in promoting critical thinking.

The above text is a snippet from Wikipedia: Paradox
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

paradox

Noun

  1. A self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa.
    "This sentence is false" is a paradox.
  2. A counterintuitive conclusion or outcome.
    It is an interesting paradox that drinking a lot of water can often make you feel thirsty.
  3. A claim that two apparently contradictory ideas are true.
    Not having a fashion is a fashion; that's a paradox.
  4. A person or thing having contradictory properties.
    He is a paradox; you would not expect him in that political party.
  5. An unanswerable question or difficult puzzle, particularly one which leads to a deeper truth.
  6. A statement which is difficult to believe, or which goes against general belief.
  7. The use of counterintuitive or contradictory statements (paradoxes) in speech or writing.
  8. A state in which one is logically compelled to contradict oneself.
  9. The practice of giving instructions that are opposed to the therapist's actual intent, with the intention that the client will disobey or be unable to obey.


The above text is a snippet from Wiktionary: paradox
and as such is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

Need help with a clue?
Try your search in the crossword dictionary!