adolescent 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of adolescentnext
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

adolescent

2 of 2

noun

as in juvenile

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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
Adjective
Changes in the adolescent brain make teenagers increasingly attentive to their social worlds, says Wayne State University psychology professor Hannah Schacter. — Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026 How peer experiences shape adolescent mental health Strong, positive friendships are associated with lower risks of depression, anxiety, physical health symptoms and academic difficulties, Schacter said. — Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
Noun
But for children and adolescents whose bodies and skeletons are still growing, specialized pediatric orthopedic care is critical. — Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026 Despite being a high achiever, Veena Dinavahi struggled with anxiety and depression as an adolescent. — Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 20 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
  1. young
  2. childish
  3. immature
  4. juvenile
  5. infantile
  6. inexperienced
  7. teenager
  8. kid
Adjective
  • Video on social media showed distressed shopkeepers begging young men to stop stealing their inventory—and those young men pushing them aside to grab shoes and food from their shelves.
    — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Such laws would require third-party audits of social media algorithms to identify any harmful patterns, such as serving eating-disorder content to young girls more than to other groups.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of young
Adjective
  • Forty-nine percent of Americans, and 60% of millennials, sometimes feel judged for enjoying things considered childish.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Memoirs proceeds from there with that simultaneous posture of high-minded openness and a childish giggle.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • Edamame Edamame, or immature soybeans, is naturally rich in both protein and fiber.
    — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The report, published in December 2024, cited multiple factors, including the fast fashion business model and immature textile recycling technologies.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of immature
Noun
  • The law did not cover every violent crime and depended partly on whether prosecutors could have sought adult prosecution when the offender was a juvenile.
    — Leigh Egan, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The driver and two juveniles were still with the vehicle when officers and paramedics arrived, Moses said.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of juvenile
Adjective
  • Surely the infantile nature of it seems designed to appeal to one figure and one figure alone, which leads to an ambiguity left open during Rubio’s presentation.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2026
  • At 8 months, the child was also diagnosed with infantile epileptic spasms syndrome, a severe form of epilepsy.
    — Inaya Folarin Iman, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of infantile
Adjective
  • Right tackle Joe Alt (neck) and left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) remain out, meaning rookie center Jake Slaughter will continue to anchor a front that has featured several inexperienced players over the last two games.
    — Joaquin Ruiz, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
  • These experienced and skilled athletes, who are often 22 or 23 years old, are appealing to coaches, especially when compared with inexperienced and physically less developed freshmen.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • Kendall teaches children and teenagers to break down anxiety-provoking situations, such as finding friends to sit with in the cafeteria or asking someone for a date, into smaller steps and planning what to do if something goes wrong.
    — Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Gilligan was 15 when he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, which is rare for teenagers but with a higher recovery rate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of teenager
Noun
  • The South is cheapest for young kids For families with young children, annual costs are lowest across much of the South.
    — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • When Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour stopped in London in 2024, the Prince of Wales wanted a photo with his kids and the world-famous singer.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of kid

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Cite this Entry

“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on adolescent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about adolescent

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