as in boy
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood
the young boxer looked like a mere stripling next to his larger, more seasoned opponent
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Recent Examples of stripling
Mickey Mouse will celebrate his 100th birthday in 2028; now in its 46th year, ESPN is a mere stripling compared to the chipper murine in the funny red pants.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
More important still, thrilling these ultra-cultured striplings means winning over mom and dad, too.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 25 June 2023
In Dunst’s hands, Antoinette is naturally happy, an excitable stripling full of life — the sort of protagonist you’d root for simply because the performer inhabiting her is so agreeable.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2021
Best-selling author Margaret George has just published a novel repackaging the Roman emperor Nero, whose name has evoked mayhem and recreational pyromania for the past 2,000 years, as a misunderstood stripling.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 5 May 2017
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
More important still, thrilling these ultra-cultured striplings means winning over mom and dad, too.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 25 June 2023
In Dunst’s hands, Antoinette is naturally happy, an excitable stripling full of life — the sort of protagonist you’d root for simply because the performer inhabiting her is so agreeable.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2021
Best-selling author Margaret George has just published a novel repackaging the Roman emperor Nero, whose name has evoked mayhem and recreational pyromania for the past 2,000 years, as a misunderstood stripling.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 5 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stripling
Noun
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Attendees were encouraged to dress in something inspired by Hannah Montana, and boy did they.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Drake & Josh, which ran from 2004 to 2007, follows two teen boys who are pretty opposite in personality who become stepbrothers.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The year was 1994, and a handful of Irish lads were gathered at a hotel in Northern Ireland to celebrate Colin Cather’s pending nuptials.—
Abby Ellin,
Washington Post,
14 Mar. 2026
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Hurzeler had better hope his lads don’t fall behind.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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All five students had their ankle bracelets removed at the conclusion of their hearings Friday and have been released from house arrest, according to two attorneys representing the teenagers.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
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This critic hopes Sparks is seen by every teenager who needs it.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
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One morning, Amber Lowrey, the sister of a defendant named Savanna Batten, showed up early after dropping her kids off at school.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2026
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And kids were harmed and kids died.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Most adults: 1,000 milligrams (mg) After menopause: 1,200 mg Children ages 4 to 8: 1,000 mg Children and adolescents ages 9 to 18: 1,300 mg 3.—
Cristina Mutchler,
Verywell Health,
10 Mar. 2026
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An innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stripling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stripling. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
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