Synonyms of adolescent

adolescent 1 of 2

adjective

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

• young
• juvenile
• youthful
• teenage
• immature
• youngish
• inexperienced
• preteen
• underage
• infantile
• embryonic
• subadult
• emergent
• minor
• burgeoning
• flowering
• childlike
• childish
• callow
• puerile
• babyish
• ephebic
• green
• undeveloped
• unfinished
• unformed
• infantine
• unripe
• flourishing
• unfledged
• raw
• blooming
• blossoming
• unripened
• kiddish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adult
• older
• mature
• elderly
• senior
• old
• geriatric
• matured
• aged
• ancient
• aging
• senescent
• grown-up
• oldish
• long-lived
• full-blown
• full-fledged
• ripe
• golden
• middle-aged
• ripened
• mellow
• senile
• over-the-hill
• doddering
• decrepit
• spavined
• tottery
• anile

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

• childish
• immature
• juvenile
• infantile
• babyish
• puerile
• jejune
• kiddish
• girlish
• boyish
• innocent
• childlike
• simple
• bratty
• unsophisticated
• brattish
• naive
• girlie
• simplistic

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adult
• mature
• grown-up
• sophisticated
• experienced
• knowing
• worldly
• smart
• cosmopolitan
• unchildlike
• worldly-wise

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

• immature
• inexperienced
• young
• juvenile
• youthful
• callow
• unfledged
• puerile
• unformed
• unripe
• unripened
• infantile
• green
• childish
• wet behind the ears
• raw
• innocent
• naive
• girlish
• babyish
• boyish
• youngish
• infantilized
• infantine
• virginal
• maidenly
• unsophisticated
• ingenuous
• untrained
• kiddish
• untried
• unknowing
• unseasoned
• juvenescent
• tender

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adult
• mature
• experienced
• ripe
• advanced
• precocious
• grown-up
• sophisticated
• knowing
• worldly
• savvy
• worldly-wise

adolescent

2 of 2

noun

as in juvenile

Related Words

• juvenile
• teenager
• kid
• youngster
• tween
• minor
• moppet
• kiddo
• kiddie
• boy
• youngling
• youth
• stripling
• nipper
• lad
• laddie
• sonny
• shaver
• boychick
• whippersnapper
• urchin
• shaveling
• gamin
• hobbledehoy
• callant
• boyo
• guttersnipe
• toddler
• schoolboy
• imp
• tyke
• tad
• squirt
• tot
• mama's boy

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of adolescent

Adjective

Contraception is critical to helping adolescent girls avoid unintended pregnancies and the risks of childbirth, particularly given Africa’s high maternal mortality rates, experts say. — ABC News, 9 Oct. 2026

When the story opens, adolescent protagonist Bela (Arabella Olivia Clark) is already familiar with the creature hiding in her bedroom, who takes the form of her mother Ursula (Chastain). — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

Despite being a high achiever, Veena Dinavahi struggled with anxiety and depression as an adolescent. — Rich Schapiro, NBC news, 20 June 2026

Many factors can lead to substance use among adolescents, experts say, including their peers and family environments. — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 12 June 2026