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

One of the tramps jumping off a freight car was the juvenile player, Frankie Darrow. — Thomas Doherty, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

According to prosecutors, Bickham was seen on train surveillance video walking around the car, going up to passengers' bags and got into an argument with the juvenile charged. — Marissa Sulek, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2026

Noun

Authorities searched throughout the evening for a missing juvenile before suspending recovery efforts overnight. — Kelsie Cairns , Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

The juveniles were cited on suspicion of reckless driving and driving without a license, and the charges were forwarded to juvenile prosecutors, police said. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing juvenile

• juvenile delinquent