1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
an adolescent sheepdog, who hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping the sheep huddled together
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
would hope that the college students had outgrown such adolescent behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in immature
lacking in adult experience or maturity
took a group of adolescent recruits and turned them into professional warriors
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adolescent
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Upward of a hundred promising adolescent boys, scouted as young as six, are admitted each year to live and train at the facility full time, in a system that resembles top youth-development programs in Europe and South America.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026
He was brought to the center as an adolescent with a broken wing (possibly due to a collision with a car) and can no longer fly properly.
—Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Adjective
Witt has known the coach since his adolescent years.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 13 June 2026
Upward of a hundred promising adolescent boys, scouted as young as six, are admitted each year to live and train at the facility full time, in a system that resembles top youth-development programs in Europe and South America.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 12 June 2026
Noun
As an adolescent, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and struggled through school.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 2026
He was brought to the center as an adolescent with a broken wing (possibly due to a collision with a car) and can no longer fly properly.
—Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
-
Moderate exercise has been shown to improve learning among students from elementary school through young adulthood, and the effects on attention, memory and executive function are well-documented, pediatricians say.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Star pitcher Logan Webb and several of the team's young major leaguers, however, are not expected to be put on the block.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
This one has a charming clover shape to make your space feel animated, but not childish.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
-
The result feels comforting without skewing childish.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
The first thing a stressed cucumber plant will do is drop blossoms and immature fruit, says Gorlin-Crenshaw.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
-
The repetition accounts for immature pollen grains and mediates weather challenges by offering multiple opportunities for the pollen to transfer to the stigma.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
This announcement came after two teens were arrested for allegedly robbing another juvenile at gunpoint during a teen link-up at THE AVENUE at White Marsh.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
-
Bates said the suspects could be juveniles.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Miami’s infantile offense can’t afford to carry this team.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
-
That now seemed an infantile idea.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
At $18 or even $15 per hour, many companies don’t see value in hiring inexperienced teens who require extensive training to interact with customers, let alone achieve some measure of productivity.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Lagway’s depature after 19 starts leaves the Gators to choose between two talented, yet inexperienced options with just one combined start — by Philo against Gardner-Webb in 2025.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
McKenna's death gained national attention after her disappearance in the middle of the night set off a frantic search for the teenager.—
Angela George,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
-
Jace is a prime example of an annoying TV teenager — stop questioning every decision your mom makes, dude!—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Take a bunch of kids who’ve never been out of East Tennessee.—
Holly Gleason,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Your support will help ease the financial burden and give Pam and her kids a sense of hope and security.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
