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
Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Critics are sometimes contemptuous of the way superhero entertainment has been embraced by adults, who should presumably be making their way through the Booker Prize longlist.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
Tickets are $10 for non-adult guests, free for hotel guests and non-guest children under age 12, with proceeds benefiting Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort providing vacations to ill children and their families.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adult
Noun
Pensacola is home to only about 1,800 Jewish adults, according to the American Jewish Population Project — a number that has remained constant for a century.
—Larry Luxner, Sun Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Critics are sometimes contemptuous of the way superhero entertainment has been embraced by adults, who should presumably be making their way through the Booker Prize longlist.
—David Faris, TheWeek, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
The junior car had gotten seriously adult.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
Tickets are $10 for non-adult guests, free for hotel guests and non-guest children under age 12, with proceeds benefiting Give Kids the World, a nonprofit resort providing vacations to ill children and their families.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adult
Noun
-
Reportedly shot for less than $100,000, this tale of Pooh and Piglet all grown-up and running amok recently opened to box office success in Mexico and is currently playing on cinema screens around America.—
Clark Collis,
EW.com,
16 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
Now, gravel paths and barefoot-friendly concrete pavers wind through mature oak trees, gently waving grasses, and structured succulents, leading to distinct seating and dining areas.—
Elizabeth Jardina,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Apr. 2026
-
After establishing herself as a leading actress in teen films, Stiles transitioned into more mature roles, including her work in the Bourne film series alongside Matt Damon and later on television in the Showtime series Dexter.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This material included thousands of pornographic deepfakes that Kamnik had generated using AI tools.—
Nate Anderson,
ArsTechnica,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Police are investigating reports that Lake Zurich High School students used artificial intelligence to generate pornographic images of classmates, district officials said.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Think of this as the matured version of the Kool-Aid dip-dye technique.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These are our children, our parents, our siblings, our elders, our neighbors, and our loved ones.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Epstein realized the Beatles needed to be freshly scrubbed in order to play in the spaces controlled by the entertainment elders who booked bands and controlled the old‑school show‑business platforms.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If in previous seasons, Euphoria foregrounded erotic imagery to make a point about the confusing and often painful process of coming to terms with one’s sexuality, now that poignancy is gone.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Inspired in part by Gillian Anderson’s compendium of women’s erotic fantasies, Want, as well as Nancy Friday’s My Secret Garden, Superbloom is, in theory, a manifestation of Ware’s deepest desires.—
Harry Tafoya,
Pitchfork,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
How to pick a ripe cantaloupe 1.—
Sheela Prakash,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Buffs could also opt for defense here, in which case Cashius Howell or Faulk off the edge or Kayden McDonald at DT could be ripe possibilities.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adult. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
