The difference between Paradox and Riddle

When used as nouns, paradox means an apparently self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa, whereas riddle means a verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.


Riddle is also verb with the meaning: to speak ambiguously or enigmatically.

check bellow for the other definitions of Paradox and Riddle

  1. Paradox as a noun:

    An apparently self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa.

    Examples:

    "This sentence is false" is a paradox."

  2. Paradox as a noun:

    A counterintuitive conclusion or outcome.

    Examples:

    "It is an interesting paradox that drinking a lot of water can often make you feel thirsty."

  3. Paradox as a noun:

    A claim that two apparently contradictory ideas are true.

    Examples:

    "Not having a fashion is a fashion; that's a paradox."

  4. Paradox as a noun:

    A thing involving contradictory yet interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist over time.

  5. Paradox as a noun:

    A person or thing having contradictory properties.

    Examples:

    "He is a paradox; you would not expect him in that political party."

  6. Paradox as a noun:

    An unanswerable question or difficult puzzle, particularly one which leads to a deeper truth.

  7. Paradox as a noun (obsolete):

    A statement which is difficult to believe, or which goes against general belief.

  8. Paradox as a noun (uncountable):

    The use of counterintuitive or contradictory statements (paradoxes) in speech or writing.

  9. Paradox as a noun (uncountable, philosophy):

    A state in which one is logically compelled to contradict oneself.

  10. Paradox as a noun (uncountable, psychotherapy):

    The practice of giving instructions that are opposed to the therapist's actual intent, with the intention that the client will disobey or be unable to obey.

  1. Riddle as a noun:

    A verbal puzzle, mystery, or other problem of an intellectual nature.

    Examples:

    "synonyms: enigma conundrum brain-teaser"

    "Here's a riddle: It's black, and white, and red all over. What is it?"

  2. Riddle as a noun:

    An ancient verbal, poetic, or literary form, in which, rather than a rhyme scheme, there are parallel opposing expressions with a hidden meaning.

  1. Riddle as a verb:

    To speak ambiguously or enigmatically.

  2. Riddle as a verb (transitive):

    To solve, answer, or explicate a riddle or question.

    Examples:

    "'Riddle me this."

  1. Riddle as a noun:

    A sieve with coarse meshes, usually of wire, for separating coarser materials from finer, as chaff from grain, cinders from ashes, or gravel from sand.

  2. Riddle as a noun:

    A board with a row of pins, set zigzag, between which wire is drawn to straighten it.

  1. Riddle as a verb:

    To put something through a riddle or sieve, to sieve, to sift.

    Examples:

    "You have to riddle the gravel before you lay it on the road."

  2. Riddle as a verb:

    To fill with holes like a riddle.

    Examples:

    "The shots from his gun began to riddle the targets."

  3. Riddle as a verb:

    To fill or spread throughout; to pervade.

    Examples:

    "Your argument is riddled with errors."

  1. Riddle as a noun (obsolete):

    A curtain; bed-curtain

  2. Riddle as a noun (religious):

    One of the pair of curtains enclosing an altar on the north and south

  1. Riddle as a verb (transitive, obsolete):

    To plait