juxtaposition
Other forms: juxtapositions
If a waiter served you a whole fish and a scoop of chocolate ice cream on the same plate, your surprise might be caused by the juxtaposition, or the side-by-side contrast, of the two foods.
Any time unlike things bump up against each other, you can describe it as a juxtaposition. Imagine a funeral mourner telling jokes graveside, and you get the idea — the juxtaposition in this case is between grief and humor. Juxtaposition of two contrasting items is often done deliberately in writing, music, or art — in order to highlight their differences.
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the act of positioning close together (or side by side)“it is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors”synonyms: apposition, collocationtypes:tessellationthe careful juxtaposition of shapes in a patterntype of:emplacement, locating, location, placement, position, positioningthe act of putting something in a certain place
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a side-by-side position
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Vocabulary lists containing juxtaposition
If you want to understand the tools and techniques that great writers use, learn these literary devices and figures of speech. Review this vocabulary list and you'll be a master of metaphor, an expert on euphemism, and a pro at puns.
If you want to understand the tools and techniques that great writers use, learn these literary devices and figures of speech. Review this vocabulary list and you'll be a master of metaphor, an expert on euphemism, and a pro at puns.