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Paradoxical vs Incompatible - What's the difference?

paradoxical | incompatible |

As adjectives the difference between paradoxical and incompatible

is that paradoxical is having self-contradictory properties while incompatible is of two things: that cannot coexist; not congruous because of differences; irreconcilable; disagreeing.

As a noun incompatible is

an incompatible substance; one of a group of things that cannot be placed or used together because of a change of chemical composition or opposing medicinal qualities.

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

    Related terms

    * paradox * paradoxicality * paradoxically

    incompatible

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of two things: that cannot coexist; not congruous because of differences; irreconcilable; disagreeing.
  • (chemistry) Incapable of being together without mutual reaction or decomposition, as certain medicines.

    • Antonyms

    * compatible

    Derived terms

    * incompatibly * incompatibility

    See also

    * incombinable * uncombinable * ununifiable * antagonistic * antipodal * contrastive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (medicine, chemistry, chiefly, in the plural) An incompatible substance; one of a group of things that cannot be placed or used together because of a change of chemical composition or opposing medicinal qualities.
    • the incompatibles of iron
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