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

It’s been a long time coming Swift’s music has served as the soundtrack to a generation of adolescent heartbreaks and coming of age crises. — Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 4 July 2026

But sudden cardiac death is also rare, occurring in roughly 1 in 70,000 adolescent athletes. — Katherine Hofmann, STAT, 30 June 2026

Noun

These provisions also do not guarantee that an adolescent will be granted an exception. — Sunaya Krishnapura, STAT, 10 June 2026

The Ulman Foundation has been creating community for adolescents and young adults impacted by cancer. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 9 June 2026