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

He was subsequently charged by Pennsylvania authorities and sent to a juvenile detention facility. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Between a school of banggai cardinalfish, a single juvenile emperor angelfish cut through, its deep blue scales segmented by white, vein-looking striations. — John Donegan Long Beach Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Noun

As of Friday, only one juvenile had been charged in connection with the shooting. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 18 Sep. 2026

Part of what makes 764 and other Nihilistic Violent Extremist groups so terrifying is that in addition to grooming minor victims, members also intentionally recruit and radicalize juveniles to become predators themselves, according to the FBI. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026

Phrases Containing juvenile

• juvenile delinquent