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Inscrutable vs Paradoxical - What's the difference?

inscrutable | paradoxical | Related terms |

Inscrutable is a related term of paradoxical.


As adjectives the difference between inscrutable and paradoxical

is that inscrutable is difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom or interpret while paradoxical is having self-contradictory properties.

As a noun inscrutable

is one who or that which is inscrutable; a person, etc that cannot be comprehended.

inscrutable

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Difficult or impossible to comprehend, fathom or interpret.
  • His inscrutable theories would years later become the foundation of a whole new science.
  • * 2007 , Tracy Jordan'' (Tracy Morgan), ''30 Rock :
  • She called my vanity license plate inscrutable ! 'ICU81MI'? Hilarious!

    Synonyms

    * (difficult to comprehend) ineffable

    Derived terms

    * inscrutability * inscrutableness * inscrutably

    See also

    * inexplorable

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who or that which is inscrutable; a person, etc. that cannot be comprehended.
  • paradoxical

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Having self-contradictory properties.
  • * 1776 , (Adam Smith), , 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 , , , 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.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
  • , chapter=4 citation , passage=By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.}}
  • * 1933 , & Hazel Heald,
  • 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