different between paradoxical vs doubtful

English

Etymology

paradox +? -ical

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pæ???d?ks?k?l/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?p????d??ks?k?l/
• Hyphenation: pa?ra?dox?ic?al

Adjective

paradoxical (comparative more paradoxical, superlative most paradoxical)

1. Having self-contradictory properties.
   • 1776, Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, book II, ch 2

     It is the ambiguity of language only which can make this proposition appear either doubtful or paradoxical. When properly explained and understood, it is almost self-evident.

   • 1898, H. G. Wells, The War of the Worlds, Book 2, ch 4

     It sounds paradoxical, but I am inclined to think that the weakness and insanity of the curate warned me, braced me, and kept me a sane man.

   • 1933, H. P. Lovecraft & Hazel Heald, Out of the Aeons

     It was tightly fitted with a cap of the same substance, and bore engraved figurings of an evidently decorative and possibly symbolic nature - conventional designs which seemed to follow a peculiarly alien, paradoxical, and doubtfully describable system of geometry.

Synonyms

• (having self-contradictory properties): oxymoronic, self-contradictory

Antonyms

• (having self-contradictory properties): self-consistent, self-evident

Related terms

• paradox
• paradoxicality
• paradoxically

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• doubtfull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English doutfull, douteful, equivalent to doubt +? -ful.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?da?tf?l/
• Hyphenation: doubt?ful

Adjective

doubtful (comparative more doubtful, superlative most doubtful)

1. Subject to, or causing doubt.
2. Experiencing or showing doubt, sceptical.
3. Undecided or of uncertain outcome.
4. (obsolete) Fearsome, dreadful.
5. Improbable or unlikely.
6. Suspicious, or of dubious character.
7. Unclear or unreliable.

Derived terms

• doubtfully
• doubtfulness

Translations

Noun

doubtful (plural doubtfuls)

1. A doubtful person or thing.
   • 1976, Kenneth Gibbons, Donald Cameron Rowat, Political Corruption in Canada: Cases, Causes and Cures (page 45)

     They had their lists of Liberals and of the doubtfuls who still remained doubtful. As the election drew near, the force of the whole organization was turned upon these unrepentant doubtfuls.