Paradox/ˈpærədɑːks/ Definition 1 of 3Pro Tip 1/3Common Confusion Remember, a paradox seems contradictory but can reveal a deeper truth. Calling a lazy person energetic is a simple contradiction, not a paradox. Pro Tip 2/3Context Sensitivity Use 'paradox' to describe complex issues, not simple opposites. It's a paradox how the quietest students often have the loudest minds. Pro Tip 3/3Figurative Language 'Paradox' is used in literature to create thoughtful observations. The poet wrote, 'Death, that dark spirit, in his nervy arm doth lie.'