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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adolescent
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Haynes, who has lived in South Florida since 1993 and trained in child and adolescent trauma after Hurricane Andrew, said resilience is as much a part of the Iranian story as suffering.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
The brave teen tried to deescalate the situation but Rivas, 45, turned the knife on the boy instead, stabbing the adolescent in the neck, shoulder and cheek, prosecutors said.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Adjective
Early, who wrote and directed, also stars as the title character, Maddie Ralph, a food influencer who is secretly struggling with the return of an adolescent eating disorder.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Haynes, who has lived in South Florida since 1993 and trained in child and adolescent trauma after Hurricane Andrew, said resilience is as much a part of the Iranian story as suffering.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Noun
Unfolding in 1870s Oxford with adventures abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
The brave teen tried to deescalate the situation but Rivas, 45, turned the knife on the boy instead, stabbing the adolescent in the neck, shoulder and cheek, prosecutors said.
—Rebecca White, New York Daily News, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
-
McKinney was Double-A Binghamton’s pitching coach last season and thus owns deeper histories with many of the Mets’ younger arms.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The 49-second video begins with a young girl in blue pants picking up a metal water bottle from the ground and throwing it at another girl.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The more childish and unrefined, the better.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Child actor Jax James has been set in the series regular role of Dougie, Maureen’s only son who is not even ten but acts like a 60-year-old scholar and has no time for childish fancies.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Preterm and low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk than full-term babies of developing NEC, potentially because of their immature digestive systems, according to the National Institutes of Health.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When the eggs hatch, the immature stages start feeding.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Two people, including a juvenile, were injured in a shooting in McKeesport on Thursday, authorities said.—
Michael Guise,
CBS News,
13 Mar. 2026
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During the investigation, Round Rock police also learned that Beverly was previously convicted of two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile in Louisiana, felony offenses under that state's law, the release said.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Among them was a treatment option for infantile hypophosphatasia, a rare form of rickets that makes children’s bones dangerously fragile.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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This suggests that the immune system may be involved in infantile amnesia.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But Miami is using an inexperienced quarterback, who had struggled on every level of the game with the exception of spot playing time the past two years, to do so?—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
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One year ago, Georgetown was deemed too small and too inexperienced – yet the Royals developed a hard-nosed defensive identity that led to their first state championship in program history.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Police later said four teenagers had been detained in a car near another synagogue in Rotterdam.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
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Aiding a teenager slumped on the ground having a medical episode this month led to North Miami Beach officers learning that a Miami Gardens man had been raping her for at least the last two years — a discovery that her mother had long since made, authorities say.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ben Wang delivers a breakthrough performance in the title role as a kid who tries to conquer his anxiety issues head-on by running for class president.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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According to his lawyer, Jimenez was trying to encourage the agents to wrap up before the kids arrived.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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