juxtapose
verb
J. F. T. Bugental
Did you know?
Is juxtapose a back-formation?
Although it doesn’t feature the word juxtapose, a classic segment from a 1969 episode of Sesame Street perfectly illustrates the essence of the verb. In it, the character Bob (as played by actor Bob McGrath) sings the catchy song “One of These Things (Is Not Like the Others)” in front of a display that juxtaposes—that is, places near one another for comparison—four items: an apple, an ice cream cone, a hamburger, and a mitten. The song asks its audience to consider their similarities and differences before deciding which is the most different (spoiler alert: it’s the mitten). The word juxtapose is likely a back-formation of the noun juxtaposition, which appropriately enough combines the Latin adjective juxta meaning “near” with the English word position. The use of juxtapose isn’t limited to tangible objects, however—images, ideas, concepts, and more are frequently juxtaposed.
Examples of juxtapose in a Sentence
Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 21 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, Solimene juxtaposes an original Sirena made of ceramic, sourced from its archive in Vietri sul Mare, Salerno, with a contemporary version created for the exhibition.
—Marianna Cerini, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
Lavender juxtaposed with ambroxan makes this scent read as fresh, with musk and beachside woods ground it into a skin-hugging base.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 16 Apr. 2026
Warm wood and rattan are juxtaposed with exuberant patterns (think scalloped headboards), and swaths of mirror and brass, eliciting a glamorous but grounded ambiance.
—Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 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 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
juxtapose
verb
