juxtapose

American  

[juhk-stuh-pohz, juhk-stuh-pohz] / ˈdʒʌk stəˌpoʊz, ˌdʒʌk stəˈpoʊz /

verb (used with object)

juxtaposed, juxtaposing

1. to place close together or side by side, especially with an arresting or surprising effect, or in a way that invites comparison or contrast.

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juxtapose British  

/ ˌdʒʌkstəˈpəʊz /

verb

1. (tr) to place close together or side by side

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Other Word Forms

• juxtaposition noun
• juxtapositional adjective

Etymology

Origin of juxtapose

First recorded in 1850–55; back formation from juxtaposition

Example Sentences

The effect of the metanarrative is to juxtapose Byron’s violent passions with the careful, repressed behavior of one who hoped to capture him in literature.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

As early as 1989, Gaines had conceived of a show that would juxtapose powerful contemporary work by Black Americans with deprecating excerpts by art critics, highlighting the profound mismeasure of these artists’ achievements.

From New York Times • May 16, 2024

All of them juxtapose multiple narratives vastly separated by time and cleanly distinguished by form, mixing futuristic sci-fi or lighthearted comedy with the brutal vagaries of history.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2023

It’s wild to juxtapose the Kraken of the past few weeks against the Kraken of the previous three months.

From Seattle Times • May 15, 2023

The entries would juxtapose the mundane thrill and confusion of being a young girl with the terror of living with Danny.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel