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Synonyms

juxtaposed

American  
[juhk-stuh-pohzd, juhk-stuh-pohzd] / ˈdʒʌk stəˌpoʊzd, ˌdʒʌk stəˈpoʊzd /

adjective

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

    The director handles the juxtaposed strands of the movie deftly, interweaving psychological intrigue with smartly observed comedy.

verb

  1. the simple past tense and past participle of juxtapose.

Etymology

Origin of juxtaposed

juxtapose ( def. ) + -ed 2 ( def. )

Explanation

Put two objects next to each other and they're juxtaposed: placed side-by-side to emphasize their contrast. An art exhibit might have the paintings of one period juxtaposed with those from another to emphasize how different the two periods were. The word juxtaposed comes from the Latin juxta, meaning "next" and the French poser, meaning "to place." When two objects are juxtaposed, they are placed next to each other, or side-by-side for comparison. It doesn't just have to be objects. After a guest manager's style was juxtaposed with your normal manager, you decided to look for a new job.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing juxtaposed

Internment

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First They Killed My Father

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"Honestly Frida"

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Inside the modest interior, screens crediting sponsors Pfizer, McKinsey, Microsoft, and C3.ai were juxtaposed with jewel-toned stained-glass windows.

From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026

Meanwhile, the other dwelling, named Casa Bahia, is more contemporary, having been built in 2015 as a “modernist structure” that is uniquely juxtaposed with its tropical surroundings.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

“What they’ve done to that place, it’s like living in hell,” he said, a comment that became an internet meme as some Portland residents juxtaposed it with tranquil images of the city.

From Salon • Nov. 14, 2025

That mentality is juxtaposed by the popular Boca motto 'transpira a la camiseta', which means to 'make the shirt sweat'.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2025

The smell of home juxtaposed with the sweaty, breathless odor of desperation and the taste of rust in my mouth.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.