The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word PARADOXES
I've seen this crossword clue in The Sunday Telegraph
P
A
R
A
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More clues leading to the result PARADOXES
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Puzzling statements" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case puzzling statements = paradoxes.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PARADOXES mean?
PARADOXES noun- An apparently self-contradictory statement, which can only be true if it is false, and vice versa.
- A counterintuitive conclusion or outcome.
- A claim that two apparently contradictory ideas are true.
- A thing involving contradictory yet interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist over time.
- A person or thing having contradictory properties.
- An unanswerable question or difficult puzzle, particularly one which leads to a deeper truth.
- A statement which is difficult to believe, or which goes against general belief.
- The use of counterintuitive or contradictory statements (paradoxes) in speech or writing.
- A state in which one is logically compelled to contradict oneself.
- 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.