puerile

pu·er·ile

adjective \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

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

pu·er·ile

adjective \ˈpyu̇(-ə)r-əl, -ˌīl\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of PUERILE

1

: marked by or suggesting childishness and immaturity

2

: being respiration that is like that of a child in being louder than normal <puerile breathing>