noun · academic
paradox
UK/ˈpærədɒks/US/ˈpærədɑːks/PAR·a·dox
a statement or situation that seems absurd or self-contradictory but may be true
Examples
“It is a paradox that some of the poorest countries have the highest birth rates.”
“The study highlights several paradoxes in consumer behaviour.”
“There is a paradox: policies designed to reduce poverty sometimes increase inequality.”
Band 8 sentence
“A striking paradox in modern economies is that technological progress can create both prosperity and job insecurity.”
Collocations
- a paradox of
- apparent paradox
- paradox arises
Word family
Common mistakes
translate as 'mâu thuẫn' only→use 'nghịch lý' or 'mâu thuẫn bề ngoài' depending on context
Say it for a higher band
5contradiction→6irony→7+paradox
Synonyms
contradiction
Easily confused
paradox vs contradiction
“It is a paradox that improving education levels has not eliminated poverty.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sublist 8
Learn it with its set