Synonyms of juvenile

juvenile 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjü-və-ˌnī(-ə)l 

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

• young
• immature
• youthful
• adolescent
• teenage
• youngish
• inexperienced
• subadult
• infantile
• minor
• childish
• embryonic
• underage
• preteen
• emergent
• childlike
• flowering
• puerile
• burgeoning
• callow
• babyish
• green
• ephebic
• undeveloped
• unfinished
• unripe
• infantine
• unformed
• kiddish
• unfledged
• raw
• flourishing
• blooming
• unripened
• blossoming

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adult
• mature
• older
• old
• senior
• elderly
• geriatric
• matured
• ancient
• aged
• senescent
• aging
• long-lived
• oldish
• grown-up
• full-blown
• full-fledged
• ripe
• golden
• mellow
• ripened
• middle-aged
• senile
• over-the-hill
• doddering
• decrepit
• spavined
• anile
• tottery

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

• childish
• immature
• adolescent
• infantile
• babyish
• puerile
• jejune
• kiddish
• girlish
• boyish
• innocent
• childlike
• simple
• unsophisticated
• bratty
• brattish
• simplistic
• naive
• girlie

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adult
• mature
• grown-up
• sophisticated
• experienced
• knowing
• smart
• worldly
• cosmopolitan
• unchildlike
• worldly-wise

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

• kid
• child
• chick
• youth
• adolescent
• cub
• teenager
• youngster
• kiddie
• teen
• moppet
• baby
• monkey
• bud
• kiddo
• youngling
• sprat
• whelp
• infant
• bairn
• sprout
• toddler
• minor
• squirt
• chap
• bambino
• newborn
• neonate
• preschooler
• schoolboy
• schoolchild
• weanling
• kindergartner
• schoolkid
• schoolgirl
• nestling
• tyke
• urchin
• rascal
• jackanapes
• whippersnapper
• bantling
• rug rat
• teenybopper
• preteen
• tween
• cherub
• rapscallion
• rogue
• teener
• tot
• mischief
• lad
• hellion
• imp
• babe
• stripling
• subteen
• nipper
• tomboy
• devil
• shaver
• tad
• hoyden
• bobby-soxer
• preteen-ager

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• adult
• grown-up
• elder
• senior citizen
• ancient
• oldster
• old-timer
• middle-ager
• senior
• golden-ager

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of juvenile

Adjective

Just last week, a regional task force arrested 13 people and rescued a juvenile victim. — James Taylor, CBS News, 31 July 2026

Sea sponges also provide a habitat for worms, crustaceans, and juvenile fish. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 30 July 2026

Noun

One juvenile was standing on top of the cart holder, and three others were playing catch with produce. — Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 28 July 2026

In fact, the national average annual cost to confine juveniles securely has increased from approximately $149,000 per year in 2014 (Justice Policy Institute) to over $214,620 per year. — Terdawn Deboe, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Phrases Containing juvenile

• juvenile delinquent