paradox

/ˈpɛrəˌdɑks/
noun
  1. A statement or situation that seems to contradict itself but may contain a hidden truth.
    • It's a paradox that the more we try to save time, the less time we seem to have.
    • The classic paradox of 'less is more' means that having fewer things can sometimes make you feel richer.
    • The story presents a paradox: the hero must lose everything to find true happiness.
  2. A person or thing that has contradictory qualities.
    • My uncle is a paradox: a shy person who loves performing on stage.
    • The city itself is a paradox, blending ancient traditions with futuristic technology.
    • She called him a walking paradox because he was both incredibly messy and a perfectionist.
Antonyms
What does "paradox" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean