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
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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
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
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Recent Examples of juvenile
Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The identity of the juvenile suspect and charges were not released.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Two other people, including another juvenile, were at the scene and taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Adjective
Aguilar had been serving time in an Orange County juvenile facility for a murder committed in 2021, authorities said.
—Cierra Morgan, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
The identity of the juvenile suspect and charges were not released.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2026
Noun
Anderson was a juvenile at the time of the shooting.
—Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
Two other people, including another juvenile, were at the scene and taken to a hospital in critical but stable condition.
—Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
Adjective
-
McKinney was Double-A Binghamton’s pitching coach last season and thus owns deeper histories with many of the Mets’ younger arms.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The 49-second video begins with a young girl in blue pants picking up a metal water bottle from the ground and throwing it at another girl.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
By the second half of the twentieth century, media depictions of bicycles often showed them as something exclusively for children, or for odd, childish adults.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
5 Mar. 2026
-
That would be childish as hell.—
Selome Hailu,
Variety,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The detrimental effects of early start times affect high school students during adolescent development.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
-
My siblings and friends became an adolescent Image Ten, everyone contributing (poorly but enthusiastically) in front of and behind the camera.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Ben Wang delivers a breakthrough performance in the title role as a kid who tries to conquer his anxiety issues head-on by running for class president.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
According to his lawyer, Jimenez was trying to encourage the agents to wrap up before the kids arrived.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Preterm and low-birth-weight babies are at higher risk than full-term babies of developing NEC, potentially because of their immature digestive systems, according to the National Institutes of Health.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
-
When the eggs hatch, the immature stages start feeding.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Miami is using an inexperienced quarterback, who had struggled on every level of the game with the exception of spot playing time the past two years, to do so?—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
-
One year ago, Georgetown was deemed too small and too inexperienced – yet the Royals developed a hard-nosed defensive identity that led to their first state championship in program history.—
Justin Barrasso,
Boston Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Rodin himself got married in 1961, to the psychologist Jill Schwab, and raised four children.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
-
None of the 140 children, teachers and staff inside the synagogue were injured, authorities said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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