Synonyms of callow

callow

adjective

ˈka-(ˌ)lō 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inexperienced
• immature
• adolescent
• young
• juvenile
• unformed
• puerile
• unfledged
• unripe
• youthful
• unripened
• green
• naive
• childish
• infantile
• raw
• boyish
• innocent
• wet behind the ears
• babyish
• girlish
• youngish
• maidenly
• infantine
• ingenuous
• infantilized
• virginal
• unsophisticated
• unseasoned
• untried
• untrained
• kiddish
• unknowing
• tender
• juvenescent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• mature
• experienced
• adult
• ripe
• advanced
• precocious
• grown-up
• sophisticated
• worldly
• knowing
• savvy
• worldly-wise

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of callow

As for the story, neither the Phantom nor the callow boyfriend struck me as proper suitors for Christine. — David Allen, Daily News, 9 Aug. 2026

Rohmer is still very young, to be sure, maybe somewhat callow, but these highly discerning insights into conflicting emotions and human psychology will end up appearing in all of his films. — André Aciman, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026

Its most melancholy scene of all involves Willy Loman, a traveling salesman who has given his unnamed company the best years of his now weary life, walking into the head office only to be humiliated by the callow young man who now runs his company and could not give a damn about him. — Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2026

Johnson empathizes with callow Nets Brooklyn used a pair of rookies in the starting lineup (Nolan Traore and Egor Demin) and had two more in the bench rotation (Danny Wolf and Drake Powell). — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026

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