juvenile

juvenile

adjective

Definition of JUVENILE

1

being in the early stage of life, growth, or development <a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg>

Synonyms adolescent, immature, juvenile, youngish, youthful

Related Words ephebic, minor, preteen, subadult, teenage (or teenaged), underage; embryonic, emergent; callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw; babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish; undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened; blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering

Near Antonyms aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, oldish, senescent, senior; full-blown, full-fledged; golden, mellow, ripe, ripened; middle-aged; anile, decrepit, doddering, over-the-hill, senile, spavined, tottery

Antonyms adult, grown-up, mature, matured

2

having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <throwing a tantrum is rather juvenile behavior for a person of your age>

Synonyms adolescent, babyish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, puerile

Related Words boyish, brattish, bratty, girlie (or girly), girlish; childlike, innocent, naive (or na{iuml}ve), simple, simplistic, unsophisticated

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

Antonyms adult, grown-up, mature

3

lacking in adult experience or maturity <a spoiled, juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully>

Synonyms adolescent, green, immature, inexperienced, juvenile, puerile, raw, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened

Related Words babyish, childish, infantile, infantilized, infantine; boyish, girlish, juvenescent, kiddish, young, youngish, youthful; maidenly, virginal; ingenuous, innocent, naive (or na{iuml}ve), tender; unknowing, unseasoned, unsophisticated, untrained, untried

Near Antonyms advanced, precocious; knowing, savvy, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

Antonyms adult, experienced, grown-up, mature, ripe