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
Neon and marble are juxtaposed with vibrant velvet, soft wool, and thoughtfully curated art and decor.
—Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2025
Kaelin’s interview is juxtaposed with the testimony of the limo driver, Allan Park, who described seeing the small duffel bag that Kaelin was referring to.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Trump tax policies, which helped widen the deficit in Trump’s first term, are juxtaposed with Bessent’s warnings about the dangers of rising U.S. debt and the cost of annual interest payments to the government’s bond holders.
—Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
Strangio’s preparations for the case are juxtaposed against audio of his oral arguments before the Supreme Court on December 4, 2024, and the questions posed by various justices at that time, as well as direct-to-camera asides from trans and cisgendered journalists and experts.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for juxtapose 
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Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2025
Kaelin’s interview is juxtaposed with the testimony of the limo driver, Allan Park, who described seeing the small duffel bag that Kaelin was referring to.
—Olivia B. Waxman, TIME, 29 Jan. 2025
Trump tax policies, which helped widen the deficit in Trump’s first term, are juxtaposed with Bessent’s warnings about the dangers of rising U.S. debt and the cost of annual interest payments to the government’s bond holders.
—Bill Barrow, Chicago Tribune, 28 Jan. 2025
Strangio’s preparations for the case are juxtaposed against audio of his oral arguments before the Supreme Court on December 4, 2024, and the questions posed by various justices at that time, as well as direct-to-camera asides from trans and cisgendered journalists and experts.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for juxtapose
Dictionary Entries Near juxtapose
Cite this Entry
“Juxtapose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtapose. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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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