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
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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
Bodies in motion are intercut with a bespoke gun factory’s grinding gears; human combats are juxtaposed with VR imagery or first-person shooter games.
—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
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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 23 Apr. 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
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