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 jaded, exhausted Indiana fan might juxtapose the NIL pool against this relatively low-profile group and wonder where the money went.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Inside the Grand Palais on Tuesday morning, Naomi Campbell juxtaposed Chanel‘s delicate approach to the wild outdoors with an unruly hairstyle reminiscent of the ’80s rocker uniform.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
Traditional teak decks and antiqued brass accents are elegantly juxtaposed with contemporary furniture and lighting.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 July 2025
Her soft-hued shadow juxtaposed a black wing, which took the form of a thick tail reaching from her outer eye corner to her temple.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 11 July 2025
Inside the Grand Palais on Tuesday morning, Naomi Campbell juxtaposed Chanel‘s delicate approach to the wild outdoors with an unruly hairstyle reminiscent of the ’80s rocker uniform.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 8 July 2025
Traditional teak decks and antiqued brass accents are elegantly juxtaposed with contemporary furniture and lighting.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 7 July 2025
Her soft-hued shadow juxtaposed a black wing, which took the form of a thick tail reaching from her outer eye corner to her temple.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 5 July 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 21 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share