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
Derry Girls, which followed teens in McGee’s native Derry in the years preceding 1998’s Good Friday Agreement, was a raucous, joke-dense show that juxtaposed mundane adolescent rites of passage with the daily horrors of life in Northern Ireland during the Troubles.
—Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
Written by Carter Faith, Cameron Bedell, and Seth Ennis, the lyrics juxtapose human vices with the teachings of a major religion.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026
At the sides, the artist juxtaposed the male Hebrew prophets and the female Greek and Roman sybils who were inspired by the gods to foretell the future.
—Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
Her makeup included bold brows and a clean visage, juxtaposing her rocker chic style.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 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.
Judy Berman, Time, 27 Feb. 2026
Written by Carter Faith, Cameron Bedell, and Seth Ennis, the lyrics juxtapose human vices with the teachings of a major religion.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 26 Feb. 2026
At the sides, the artist juxtaposed the male Hebrew prophets and the female Greek and Roman sybils who were inspired by the gods to foretell the future.
—Virginia Raguin, The Conversation, 19 Feb. 2026
Her makeup included bold brows and a clean visage, juxtaposing her rocker chic style.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 18 Feb. 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 5 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
