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
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 19 Aug. 2025
This integration of known and unknown creates an enormous sense of internal conflict for an adolescent.
—Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
The soft good looks of the sweet and kind Talmudic scholar that Kane’s character falls for appealed to my adolescent heart.
—Marisa Silver
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Adjective
Children: There is insufficient scientific evidence to conclude that hibiscus tea is safe for children and adolescents.
—Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 19 Aug. 2025
This integration of known and unknown creates an enormous sense of internal conflict for an adolescent.
—Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
There isn’t a set age that mental health experts recommend a child be given their own account, as each individual will be ready at a different time, said Jessica Hawks, a child and adolescent psychologist at Children’s Hospital Colorado.
—Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 29 Sep. 2025
The soft good looks of the sweet and kind Talmudic scholar that Kane’s character falls for appealed to my adolescent heart.
—Marisa Silver
september 23, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
-
Pathways for young English players are increasingly threatened, even in the post-Brexit era, where recruitment of academy footballers from abroad is restricted.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Jones first rose to prominence during his time as a standout at Syracuse University alongside his younger brother, fellow former NFL star Chandler Jones, from 2006 to 2009, before going on to get drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Marta’s brothers sobbed with the desperation of years, with childish anguish.—
Mariana Enriquez
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer referred to an earlier video, also featuring Jeffries in a sombrero, as childish and evidence that the White House and the GOP were unserious about the shutdown.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Commenting on Taiwan’s possible nuclear options, Jusen Asuka, a professor at Tohoku University and chair of the session in the conference, cautioned that SMRs remain immature and costly, and investing heavily in them could slow renewable energy development.—
Yu-Tzu Chiu,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In some cases, these are labelled as muscular injuries but Monasterio warns players at these ages are still skeletally immature in these regions.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
During the same period in 2024, 3,333 arrests of juveniles and adults were made.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Among those injured were two juveniles, including one who suffered life-threatening injuries, according to the Montgomery Police Department.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Muscle Man is a deeply ironic book, creating a vast chasm between Harold’s strongman self-image and his infantile powers of self-expression.—
Robert Rubsam,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
By the way, Valera wasn’t the only inexperienced Guardian to make a pivotal play.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Fleck said that type of at-the-line adjustment is atypical for such an inexperienced player; Lindsey was making only his fourth collegiate start.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Born in 1945, Dreja grew up in Kingston Upon Thames, England, and was drawn to rock ‘n’ roll as a teenager.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Still only a teenager (aged 19), but played 111 times for Ajax and has been in and out of the Dutch senior squad for almost two years.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
After a long day of activity, reward the kids with a treat from The Cake Bake Shop or Graeter’s Ice Cream.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Many autistic kids are drawn to water, regardless of its temperature, because water offers a calming sensory effect.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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