as in inexperienced
lacking in adult experience or maturity
a story about a callow youth who learns the value of hard work and self-reliance
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Recent Examples of callow
In discerning and grooming the callow and shallow Donald, Roy picks up on his starrily megawatt personality, likening him to Robert Redford.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
For me, DiCaprio, now pushing 50, nevertheless almost always seems too callow, too green, for the roles he’s called upon to play, especially in his many Scorsese films.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023
These comments expressed the callow moral vanity at the core of EA.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 Nov. 2022
Even with a callow receiving corps that has earned his wrath at times, A-Rod is a problem.
—Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for callow
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 Oct. 2024
For me, DiCaprio, now pushing 50, nevertheless almost always seems too callow, too green, for the roles he’s called upon to play, especially in his many Scorsese films.
—Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023
These comments expressed the callow moral vanity at the core of EA.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 Nov. 2022
Even with a callow receiving corps that has earned his wrath at times, A-Rod is a problem.
—Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for callow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for callow
Adjective
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Injuries have swept through the league, and inexperienced or ill-fitting players have been forced into service as special-teams blockers.—
J.J. Bailey,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Scaloni, whose team finished in first place in South American World Cup qualifying, was using Friday’s match, and the Tuesday match against Puerto Rico at Chase Stadium, to integrate some of the younger and inexperienced players on the roster.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Stem cells are immature cells that have the ability to turn into insulin-producing beta cells and to produce more cells like themselves.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Instead of croquet games or slam books, the four teen girls of The Craft use spells to help get through their adolescent angst.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
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One by one, with sweaty palms and cracking adolescent voices, the pupils rose and read.—
Jeff Pearlman,
Rolling Stone,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
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But even working with young elite athletes, Wolff believes everyone should take it a little easier on the generation.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Callow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/callow. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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