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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adolescent
John Hopewell, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
In contrast, some psychology specialists have highlighted that the adolescent stage, which dominates among members of the therian community, is one in which identity exploration abounds, reports adn Noticias.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
The sit-down goes about as well as can be expected — Lulu, as her name implies, is a bit off — but for lack of stronger competition, she’s put in charge of two well-off adolescents for a few nights each week.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Adjective
Cut to 1981, in a dirt-poor neighbourhood of Santiago de Chile, an adolescent Carlos gets his sneakers stolen by another kid, Clavo.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 17 Feb. 2026
In contrast, some psychology specialists have highlighted that the adolescent stage, which dominates among members of the therian community, is one in which identity exploration abounds, reports adn Noticias.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
The Crossroads Center is a nonprofit that treats roughly 1,000 adults and adolescents a year for substance abuse and mental health disorders.
—Bebe Hodges, Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 Jan. 2026
The sit-down goes about as well as can be expected — Lulu, as her name implies, is a bit off — but for lack of stronger competition, she’s put in charge of two well-off adolescents for a few nights each week.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
-
The hockey association could have used a big international appearance to promote the sport to younger players.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Coach Rick Hirtensteiner said Young dealt with the pressure by just trying to have fun, and Sheffer, playing with his younger brother, Ryan, a starting shortstop, appeared to do just that Wednesday.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Hence the childish clown imagery in an era before coulrophobia was widely talked about.—
Fielding Buck,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
However, Robbie’s performance keeps Cathy’s childish nature intact with many obsessive outbursts.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Adults have a waxy cottony-looking coating, while immature bugs are smaller but similar.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The film’s vintage patina doesn’t detract from rising actor Will Price’s confident performance as an immature mobster who prefers bitcoin to stacks of Benjamins.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Investigators said a majority of the juveniles were victimized over social media, including TikTok and Snapchat.—
Brittany Kubicko,
NBC news,
20 Feb. 2026
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Bringing juveniles back into Mecklenburg County keeps young people closer to their families, support systems, and community resources, which matters for both accountability and rehabilitation.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Bi modelled the monster after the way fetuses look on ultrasounds, at once aged and infantile, and had his designers make the Deliriant hunched over, bearing a tortoise-like shell on his back.—
Dennis Zhou,
New Yorker,
12 Dec. 2025
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The program is the legacy of Dr. Stephen Arnon, chief of the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program at the California health department, who dedicated his life to finding a treatment for infantile botulism.—
Brenda Goodman,
CNN Money,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The president has directed the department to pursue his personal enemies and has replaced career DOJ employees with inexperienced MAGA loyalists, sometimes to the detriment of his own agenda.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Even on a good day, the area is not for the inexperienced.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As the game entered stoppage time, the algorithm was on course for a rare correct scoreline, but then Wolves teenager Tom Edozie struck and Arsenal substitute Riccardo Calafiori could only divert the ball into the net, blowing the title race wide open.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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In the 2010s, the Daily Mail published an archive photo Giuffre took with Andrew and his longtime associate, British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell, as a teenager.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The kids couldn’t receive direct messages from non-followers and algorithms would be adjusted so they couldn’t be targeted by specific advertisements.—
Carole Carlson,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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School nutrition staff and vendors use the event to test new recipes and get feedback from the very kids who will be eating them.—
AJ Willingham,
AJC.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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