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
as in juvenile
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adolescent
Shiv Sudhakar, NBC news, 13 June 2025
The study also focused only on children and adolescents.
—Jackie Fortiér, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 18 June 2025
The Second Look Act closes the gap for many individuals who committed their offense prior to age 25, acknowledging research that the brains of emerging adults, aged 18 to 25, share more in common with the adolescent brain than adults.
—Kara Gotsch, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Adjective
Chen researches Covid complications, including kidney problems, in children and adolescents.
—Shiv Sudhakar, NBC news, 13 June 2025
The study also focused only on children and adolescents.
—Jackie Fortiér, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Noun
In one study of women and adolescent girls in sub-Saharan Africa and Uganda, lenacapavir was 100% effective at preventing HIV infections.
—Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 18 June 2025
The Second Look Act closes the gap for many individuals who committed their offense prior to age 25, acknowledging research that the brains of emerging adults, aged 18 to 25, share more in common with the adolescent brain than adults.
—Kara Gotsch, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
-
But the real treat for me was meeting all these young people who are so extraordinary.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
23 June 2025
-
Rowan is a funny, playful, and high-spirited young boy who keeps everyone around him smiling.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
22 June 2025
Adjective
-
From baby animals to childish drawings, Labubu to Mary Janes, all things cute have entered the mainstream.—
Gemma A. Williams,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
There is something of the rat terrier in her small white face, an intensity that has never seemed childish but unnaturally adult.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
After hatching, the immature cicadas or nymphs spend 17 or 13 years underground, feeding on roots, then emerge during the spring and transform into adult cicadas.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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And babies younger than six months old—who are ineligible for vaccination because of their immature immune system—have the highest rates COVID hospitalization after adults aged 75 and older.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
10 June 2025
Noun
-
Lundes went from juvenile camp to juvenile camp and then to the California Youth Authority, the ineffective and poorly run state system that has since been shut down.—
Ivan Kashinsky,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
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The budget contains five new projects, though: a sheriff’s station in Ramona, new electric vehicle charging stations for county vehicles, a 16-bed crisis center for youths, a facility for juveniles incarcerated for short periods of time and a training tower for county fire personnel.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 June 2025
Adjective
-
Additionally, some dogs, particularly breeds with extreme infantile traits (such as pugs and French bulldogs), may appear as helpless, harmless, and innocent as small children.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
22 May 2025
-
For a long time, infantile amnesia was thought to be tied to an inability to make memories in infancy.—
Sam Walters,
Discover Magazine,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
In his block was another teenager — Elie Wiesel — who would go on to write about his experience in the Holocaust in the memoir Night and later received the Nobel Peace Prize.—
Tom Dreisbach,
NPR,
30 June 2025
-
The film sees Steamboat Willie’s first mate, Minnie, go on a killing spree when seeking revenge against the childhood bullies who tortured her as a teenager.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
30 June 2025
Noun
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The hilarious comedian brings the heat (and the guilt trips) in her Hulu debut special, taking aim at husbands, kids, in-laws, and anyone who dares question an Indian mom’s wisdom.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
30 June 2025
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Supreme had skaters, kids who didn’t fit in anywhere else.—
Adam Zagoria,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
The older elephants surround it, allowing the youngster to relax and play in the water while being protected from crocodiles lurking nearby.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
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Yet, the youngster is still in search of his first PGA Tour victory.—
Kendall Capps,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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