French word

paradoxalement

Pronunciation

IPA/paʁadɔksaləmɑ̃/

Meaning

  • adverbparadoxically

Example

Le train était, paradoxalement, à l'heure.

The train was, paradoxically, on time.

Illustration for paradoxalement (paradoxically)

More examples

Paradoxalement, elle a ri alors que tout le monde était sérieux.

Paradoxically, she laughed while everyone was serious.

Core concept

A familiar expectation turned inside out by the actual result.

Similar words

étonnamment: In a way that is notably surprising.
ironiquement: In a way marked by irony or an unexpected reversal.

Definition in French

Marque un contraste surprenant entre une attente et la réalité.

Word origin

The suffix -ement turns the adjective paradoxal into the adverb paradoxalement, and paradoxal descends via Latin from Greek παράδοξος.

Usage tips

  • The final -ement has a nasal vowel, so paradoxalement does not sound like the English ending in moment.

Opposites

Related words

  • paradoxiqueparadoxicaladjective
  • paradoxeparadoxnoun

Word lists with this word