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 interior spaces artfully play with old and new—Jacobean florals and damask textiles juxtapose nicely with custom wood furniture and bespoke BDDW ceramics (a favorite of Gwyneth Paltrow’s) in the form of lamps, room key fobs, and toilet paper holders, of all things.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Mar. 2026
Rosi’s artistry grasps the limitations of being a long-term guest, visually juxtaposing the ancient and elemental, busts and people.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Pittman, who had already admonished another defense lawyer for bringing an authorized poster board that juxtaposed scenes of seemingly peaceful protest with a fiery riot, suggested that the defense was trying to equate its side of the case with the civil rights movement.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Radić juxtaposes manmade and natural materials in thoughtful ways, with structures sometimes embedded in rocky terrain or appearing to emerge from the ground.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
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.
Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Mar. 2026
Rosi’s artistry grasps the limitations of being a long-term guest, visually juxtaposing the ancient and elemental, busts and people.
—Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Pittman, who had already admonished another defense lawyer for bringing an authorized poster board that juxtaposed scenes of seemingly peaceful protest with a fiery riot, suggested that the defense was trying to equate its side of the case with the civil rights movement.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 Mar. 2026
Radić juxtaposes manmade and natural materials in thoughtful ways, with structures sometimes embedded in rocky terrain or appearing to emerge from the ground.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 12 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
Cite this Entry
“Juxtapose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtapose. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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
