Definition of JUXTAPOSES (original) (raw)
: 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
Did you know?
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
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.
While her eyelids and lips remained as wet as her hair, Rihanna’s makeup artist Priscilla Ono juxtaposed the texture with a mattified base before adding a small detail on her cheek: a black beauty mark. —India Espy-Jones, Essence, 31 Jan. 2025 Now in its 11th year, the nine-course menu features both traditional and homegrown recipes, curated to juxtapose heritage with modernity. —Natalie Keng, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025 Dennis Newhall, a jazz announcer until the 2023 layoff, said the news of Reina’s involvement struck harder when juxtaposed with Reina’s personality. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 21 Jan. 2025 Peter Medak directs a genuinely affecting slow-burn thriller that begins in ice and ends in fire, juxtaposing the finality of death against the restlessness of the afterlife. —Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 20 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for juxtapose 
Word History
Etymology
probably back-formation from juxtaposition
First Known Use
1851, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of juxtapose was in 1851
Dictionary Entries Near juxtapose
Cite this Entry
“Juxtapose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juxtapose. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
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Last Updated: 3 Feb 2025 - Updated example sentences
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