puerile

pu·er·ile

adj \ˈpyu̇(-ə)r-əl, -ˌī(-ə)l\

Definition of PUERILE

1

: juvenile

2

: childish, silly <puerile remarks>

— pu·er·ile·ly \-ə(l)-lē, -ˌī(-ə)l-lē\ adverb

— pu·er·il·i·ty \ˌpyu̇(-ə)r-ˈi-lə-tē\ noun

Examples of PUERILE

1. <told the teenagers that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony>
2. <allowed the company to be taken over by a bunch of puerile whippersnappers fresh out of business school>

Origin of PUERILE

French or Latin; French puéril, from Latin puerilis, from puer boy, child; akin to Sanskrit putra son, child and perhaps to Greek pais boy, child — more at few

First Known Use: 1652

Related to PUERILE

Synonyms: adolescent, babyish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, childish

Antonyms: adult, grown-up, mature

Related Words: boyish, brattish, bratty, girlie (or girly), girlish; childlike, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simplistic, unsophisticated

Near Antonyms: unchildlike; cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, smart, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with PUERILE

abseil, air mile, bass viol, black bile, Blue Nile, decile, erstwhile, exile, Fair Isle, field trial, gentile, high style, hostile, lifestyle, meanwhile, motile, nail file, New Style, old style, Old Style, on file, profile, redial, reptile, show trial, stockpile, time trial