INFANTILE Synonyms: 32 Similar and Opposite Words

infantile

adjective

ˈin-fən-ˌtī(-ə)l

Definition of infantile

as in childish

having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children the infantile humor that teenage boys are justly famous for

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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 infantile Not for infantile name calling. — Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026 Then, there’s this rather infantile tendency for the MAGA crowd to call any content moderation an act of censorship, which is a ludicrous distortion of the truth. — Joel Khalili, Wired News, 11 Mar. 2026 The question is if his self-serving instincts overcome his infantile rage. — Arkansas Online, 9 Mar. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for infantile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for infantile

Adjective

There is a playful feeling to many PATTARAPHAN pieces, but this is not childish work.

— Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
And also settling a very childish dispute between the airport and the contractors.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of childish

Adjective

Tests revealed that Matias had neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer that develops from immature nerve cells, per the Cleveland Clinic.

— Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
There’s nothing wrong with holding on to childhood and being a little immature from time to time.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of immature

Adjective

The study involved 16 male adolescent athletes, so its findings should not be generalized to everyone.

— Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Eric Cartman The terrifically foul-mouthed, plus-sized adolescent made his debut in the pilot episode of South Park, which follows the japes and scrapes of Cartman and his pals Kyle, Stan, and Kenny in the titular Colorado enclave.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of adolescent

Adjective

Natascha Hedegaard, an in-house veterinary advisor for JoyFull Pet, said large and giant breeds have a longer juvenile stage than small breed dogs.

— Maddie Rhodes, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Located off Statesville Road north of uptown, Jail North was a juvenile detention center from 2020 to 2022 before staffing problems forced its closure.

— Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of juvenile

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infant

infantile

infantilized

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“Infantile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/infantile. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of infantile

adjective

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