juvenile 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjü-və-ˌnī(-ə)l How to pronounce juvenile (audio)
Definition of juvenilenext
1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children throwing a tantrum is rather juvenile behavior for a person of your age

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adolescent
lacking in adult experience or maturity a spoiled, juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

juvenile

2 of 2

noun

as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood

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 juvenile
Adjective
In 2023, 18-year-old Bryan Diaz died of a fentanyl overdose at the county’s other main juvenile hall in Sylmar. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026 However, this particular vertebra, which measures around 10 centimeters (four inches) in diameter, belongs to a juvenile or small adult that would have been around six to seven meters (20-23 feet) long, according to the statement. — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Noun
Joel Currier, 22nd Judicial Circuit chief communications officer, identified the 7-month-old as the juvenile's niece in a statement shared with PEOPLE. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 Nearly all scalloped hammerheads were juveniles and none had reached maturity. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
  1. young
  2. childish
  3. adolescent
  4. kid
  5. immature
  6. inexperienced
  7. child
Adjective
  • Be vigilant about never leaving young children and pets in vehicles without supervision, especially during periods of intense heat, as car interiors can quickly become extremely hot.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
  • As the sounds of fighting increased nearby, Al-Zaharnah decided to leave with his wife and youngest son.
    — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Definition of young
Adjective
  • Their ideas about it were often steeped in stereotypes suggesting that Buddhists were irrational and childish in their thinking.
    — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 7 July 2026
  • While there is absolutely nothing childish about the property, there are crib and highchairs available, children’s menus at the hotel’s restaurant, and babysitting services that can be arranged through a third party.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • Additionally, occasional rule-breaking and defiance are considered a normal part of child and adolescent development.
    — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Ultimately, this visible lump is a permanent record of a hormonal change, primarily designed to be heard, reflecting the body's adolescent effort to project a larger presence.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of adolescent
Noun
  • The politician started the team as a positive force for school-age kids, to keep kids in school, off drugs and out of gangs through athletic acrobatic practice and performance.
    — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
  • These two summer nutrition programs work in concert to provide a solution to the long-standing challenge of summer hunger for kids.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 July 2026
Definition of kid
Adjective
  • In practice, portions of the automation framework still feel slightly immature.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
  • These are the immature stages of small brown moths.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Definition of immature
Adjective
  • Hillmann said that the high percentage of inexperienced foreigners today makes the Pamplona bull runs particularly dangerous.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • Leaders in at least three counties have publicly spoken out against Alfonso as being too inexperienced for the job and questioned Duffy’s influence.
    — Scott Bauer, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • Harry's decision comes amid an ongoing security fiasco concerning the safety of Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
    — Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Would her child be buried in a separate part of the cemetery without the appropriate eulogies?
    — Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Definition of child

Phrases Containing juvenile

Browse Nearby Words

juvenescent
juvenile
juvenile delinquent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on juvenile

Nglish: Translation of juvenile for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of fulcrum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All