as in grown-up
a fully grown person
at the beach, the adults sat under broad umbrellas while the children splashed in the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in pornographic
dealing in or with explicitly sexual material
an adult magazine
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in matured
fully grown or developed
insects that are butterflies in their adult stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adult
Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 29 June 2025
Here’s What the Research Showed The study, funded by the National Mango Board, involved 48 adult men ages 20-60 who had overweight or obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Health, 28 June 2025
Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2023
The first whale found this month, a sub-adult male gray whale, was recovered Jan. 11 in Winchester Bay and was slain by killer whales, according to Milstein.
—oregonlive, 24 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for adult
Noun
The force of the crash sent the car’s engine into its front seat, killing all three adult occupants: Mansfield, Brody and Harrison (as well as Mansfield’s chihuahua), according to The New York Times.
—Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 29 June 2025
Here’s What the Research Showed The study, funded by the National Mango Board, involved 48 adult men ages 20-60 who had overweight or obesity and chronic low-grade inflammation.
—Lauren Manaker Ms, Health, 28 June 2025
Adjective
There has not been a sighting of a calf since 2005, though juvenile and sub-adult whales have been seen more recently, Crance said.
—Tara Duggan, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Mar. 2023
The first whale found this month, a sub-adult male gray whale, was recovered Jan. 11 in Winchester Bay and was slain by killer whales, according to Milstein.
—oregonlive, 24 Jan. 2023
See All Example Sentences for adult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adult
Adjective
-
While Baekhyun’s chocolate-brown hair during the Essence of Reverie promotions lent him a mature air, the tour’s platinum blonde hue underscored his playful spirit, one that shone with every wide-eyed glance and genuine laugh.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
-
Bomberman: Act Zero (2006) is one of the greatest cautionary tales about how slapping a more mature coat of paint on a classic character can end up tarnishing an entire franchise.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
Noun
-
Leech Lake officials asked people to check on their neighbors — in particular elders and people with health conditions.—
Andrew Krueger,
Twin Cities,
23 June 2025
-
The Cost of Delay: Why Timing Matters Every month of delay in implementing comprehensive elder and disability planning increases both financial risk and family stress.—
Matthew F. Erskine,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Adjective
-
Studios is out with Alicia Silverstone in erotic thriller Pretty Thing as a successful executive in a torrid affair with a younger man (Karl Glusman) who becomes obsessed with her.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
3 July 2025
-
The expansion of the genre tracks the broadening acceptability of erotic inclinations that were previously pathologized (and, at times, criminalized).—
Lily Burana,
The Atlantic,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
If the leaf comes out with minimal resistance, the fruit is probably ripe.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
22 June 2025
-
This is a fruit ripe for picking and every investor, private-equity firm and sovereign wealth fund looking for a prize asset in the world’s most popular domestic football league has kicked the tyres at Spurs, taken the tour and run the numbers.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Adult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adult. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share