Which term is placing contradictory things side by side?

• A. Diction
• B. Juxtaposition
• C. Anachronism
• D. Irony

Answer: (B)

Juxtaposition is the deliberate placement of contrasting or contradictory elements next to each other to invite comparison and heighten meaning. When a text puts opposing ideas, images, or tones side by side, it creates a clear contrast that can reveal relationships, intensify tension, or illuminate a theme. This is exactly what’s meant by placing contradictory things side by side. Diction is about word choice and style, not the positional contrast of ideas. Anachronism is something out of its proper time. Irony involves a mismatch between appearance and reality or expectation and outcome, rather than a straightforward side-by-side contrast of elements. So the best term for this idea is juxtaposition.