juxtapose
verb
jux·ta·pose
ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz 
juxtaposed; juxtaposing
: to place (different things) side by side (as to compare them or contrast them or to create an interesting effect)
juxtapose unexpected combinations of colors, shapes and ideas—
J. F. T. Bugental
J. F. T. Bugental
Did you know?
Is juxtapose a back-formation?
A back-formation is a word that has come about through the removal of a prefix or a suffix from a longer word. Etymologists believe juxtapose is a back-formation that was created when people trimmed down the noun juxtaposition. Historical evidence supports the idea: juxtaposition shows up in the 17th century and juxtapose in the 19th. Juxtaposition is a combination of Latin juxta, meaning "near," and English "position."
Examples of juxtapose in a Sentence
a display that juxtaposes modern art with classical art
Recent Examples on the Web
The angular motions of her torso, head, and arms simultaneously juxtapose with and align with Isamu Noguchi’s Sun at Midnight (1973).
—Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Then, McGrath finished off the look with a deep cabernet red lip painted on with the Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil, juxtaposing beauty’s most iconic eras.
—Essence, 6 May 2025
Billboards juxtaposed Ho Chi Minh’s gaze with images of new bridges, connecting past struggles to modern development.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The focus is on af Klimt’s engagement with the natural world and exploration of spirituality in nature, juxtaposing detailed renderings of the Swedish flora that surrounded her with enigmatic abstract diagrams.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
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Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
Then, McGrath finished off the look with a deep cabernet red lip painted on with the Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil, juxtaposing beauty’s most iconic eras.
—Essence, 6 May 2025
Billboards juxtaposed Ho Chi Minh’s gaze with images of new bridges, connecting past struggles to modern development.
—Damien Cave, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025
The focus is on af Klimt’s engagement with the natural world and exploration of spirituality in nature, juxtaposing detailed renderings of the Swedish flora that surrounded her with enigmatic abstract diagrams.
—Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
Cite this Entry
“Juxtapose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtapose. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
juxtapose
verb
jux·ta·pose
ˈjək-stə-ˌpōz
juxtaposed; juxtaposing
: to place side by side
juxtaposition
noun
ˌjək-stə-pə-ˈzish-ən
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