1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
throwing a tantrum is rather juvenile behavior for a person of your age
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adolescent
lacking in adult experience or maturity
a spoiled, juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood
a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of juvenile
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Teachers provide daily, year-round instruction in language arts, math, science and social studies, with the goal of helping students living in juvenile detention ultimately transition back into their public school programs successfully.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
Separately on Wednesday, the Albuquerque Police Department announced murder charges against three teenagers — including two juveniles — in the July 2 shooting death of a homeless man in Albuquerque who was chased from a bus stop in the predawn hours.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Adjective
Within the juvenile curfew zone, children under the age of 17 are prohibited from gathering in a group of nine or more in any public place or on the premises of any establishment unless engaged in certain exempted activities, according to police.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Teachers provide daily, year-round instruction in language arts, math, science and social studies, with the goal of helping students living in juvenile detention ultimately transition back into their public school programs successfully.
—Aurora Beacon-News, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
Adults grow to just 2 or 3 inches, while juveniles, like the one in Majd's video, can be even smaller.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
Separately on Wednesday, the Albuquerque Police Department announced murder charges against three teenagers — including two juveniles — in the July 2 shooting death of a homeless man in Albuquerque who was chased from a bus stop in the predawn hours.
—Nino Paoli, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
Adjective
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Specifically, the complaint alleges that young TikTok users, those ages 13 to 17, may isolate themselves from their peers while on the app, or compare themselves too much to others, which may lead to self-confidence issues.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
22 Aug. 2025
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The one who ended up being the adult as a fourth grader, changing her younger sister's diapers and performing some household functions after her granny got cancer.—
Brad Schmitt,
The Tennessean,
21 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There are childish elements – cartoony comic-relief kids, a cute ball-robot called Haro who’d become Gundam’s enduring mascot.—
Kambole Campbell,
IndieWire,
21 Aug. 2025
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Somewhere between building sandcastles as children and assuming adult responsibilities, the impulse to play is often labeled as childish.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Data from 70 countries show that while most women and adolescent girls have menstrual materials and a private place to change, many lack sufficient materials to change as often as needed.—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
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While such evaluations can happen at most any age, diagnosis typically occurs in individuals over the age of 18, since many symptoms can overlap with normal adolescent development.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Our kids need to be taken care of first and foremost by licensed teachers in every classroom.—
Rory Linnane,
jsonline.com,
30 Aug. 2025
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My very favorite section is our kids' and middle grade section!—
American Booksellers Association,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The immature or nymph stage is similar in shape but more red than adult bugs.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
23 Aug. 2025
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Several argued that refusing to attend was only stirring the pot, and slammed the woman for being immature and entitled.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Lubbock County Sheriff's deputies responded to a report of an unresponsive child in the family’s home on July 11, 2021, around 4 p.m. local time, according to an arrest warrant obtained by KLBK at the time.—
Toria Sheffield,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
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July 2025 Six of Cups: July is asking you to reconnect with your inner child, Pisces.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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