adolescent 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of adolescentnext
1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development an adolescent sheepdog, who hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping the sheep huddled together

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children would hope that the college students had outgrown such adolescent behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in immature
lacking in adult experience or maturity took a group of adolescent recruits and turned them into professional warriors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adolescent

2 of 2

noun

as in juvenile

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of adolescent
Adjective
The French bishops conference counted 21,386 adult and adolescent baptisms at Easter this year. — Chris Livesay, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026 Improvements in youth mental health In 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in child and adolescent mental health. — Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 23 Sep. 2026
Noun
Despite being a high achiever, Veena Dinavahi struggled with anxiety and depression as an adolescent. — Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 20 June 2026 Many factors can lead to substance use among adolescents, experts say, including their peers and family environments. — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
  1. young
  2. childish
  3. immature
  4. juvenile
  5. infantile
  6. inexperienced
  7. teenager
  8. kid
Adjective
  • After years of cruel dismissal from his grandfather, Kang Seung-woon (Jung Jin-young), and relentless pressure from his mother, Kang Ji-hye (Yoon Se-ah), Pi-o doubts his talent.
    — Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Now, having accomplished the feat at such a young age, Lamine Yamal is poised to cash in for years to come.
    — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of young
Adjective
  • There is a playful feeling to many PATTARAPHAN pieces, but this is not childish work.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • And also settling a very childish dispute between the airport and the contractors.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • The report, published in December 2024, cited multiple factors, including the fast fashion business model and immature textile recycling technologies.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Sprouts are essentially immature, miniature plants harvested shortly after germination.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of immature
Noun
  • The juvenile, the report said, received medical attention for their injury.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Nine adults and five juveniles were inside those houses at the time.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of juvenile
Adjective
  • At 8 months, the child was also diagnosed with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy.
    — Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Many have remarked that there is something touchingly infantile in both the watching and the making of a trash movie.
    — Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of infantile
Adjective
  • The problem of absent or inexperienced ambassadors goes both ways.
    — Donald Heflin, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Officials are urging anyone spending time near the water to use a life jacket, especially children and inexperienced swimmers.
    — Brady Halbleib, CBS News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • French youths have been demonstrating over poor conditions at school buildings, and analysts expect unrest to intensify after a teenager’s hand was blown off by a riot police sting grenade.
    — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The widespread use of arrests, tear gas and riot-control weapons against teenagers is fueling defiance and angering some parents and teachers.
    — NICOLAS GARRIGA, Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of teenager
Noun
  • In the winter months of 1973, kids were taking flashlights to the pitch-black bus stops in the morning.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Carmella is also still mad at Vicki for saying that Danny is raising her kids, and Heather is angry after learning that Vicki called her fake in Palm Springs.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of kid

Browse Nearby Words

adolescences
adolescent
adolescents
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on adolescent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adolescent

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All