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
Karaban’s sticking power is a fascinating dynamic when juxtaposed with the changing climate in college basketball.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
The staging of their wedding on Monday is immediately juxtaposed with the deaths of Mercutio (played flamboyantly, and with a penchant for mooning, by Kasper Hilton-Hille) and Tybalt (Aruna Jalloh).
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
The planar glass and polished aluminum materials give the piece a more industrial feeling—a sensation juxtaposed by the LED strip within, which emits a soft, warm glow.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
They're juxtaposed with quirky contemporary designs, like a brass-and-zinc coffee table by French-Serbian artist Marko and Edoardo Lietti’s Sedia Tonda chair, which recalls the cut-outs of the screens throughout.
—Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for juxtapose
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Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026
The staging of their wedding on Monday is immediately juxtaposed with the deaths of Mercutio (played flamboyantly, and with a penchant for mooning, by Kasper Hilton-Hille) and Tybalt (Aruna Jalloh).
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
The planar glass and polished aluminum materials give the piece a more industrial feeling—a sensation juxtaposed by the LED strip within, which emits a soft, warm glow.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
They're juxtaposed with quirky contemporary designs, like a brass-and-zinc coffee table by French-Serbian artist Marko and Edoardo Lietti’s Sedia Tonda chair, which recalls the cut-outs of the screens throughout.
—Amy Bradford, Architectural Digest, 29 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 5 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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