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
• shaver
• devil
• 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

In her Venice job, the majority of people had been in foster care, juvenile hall or prison. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026

They were transported to a juvenile detention facility, officers said. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Noun

In the livers of urban fish, 425 genes in juveniles and 585 in adults showed activity largely linked to inflammation and immune system responses that was not seen in damselfish living in clean, untouched reef areas. — New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2026

Lowe said a white shark nursery reappeared for the first time since 2011 in Santa Monica Bay, where juveniles frolic without bothering humans. — Daniel Trotta, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2026

Phrases Containing juvenile

• juvenile delinquent