juvenile 1 of 2

adjective

ˈjü-və-ˌnī(-ə)l How to pronounce juvenile (audio)
Definition of juvenilenext
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

Relevance

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of juvenile
Adjective
One crab can eat more than 40 juvenile soft-shell clams in a day, while also destroying seagrass habitats. — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 The facility also houses many juveniles from Mecklenburg County, which has lacked its own juvenile detention center since Sheriff Garry McFadden closed Jail North in 2022. — Nora O’Neill 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026
Noun
Among the victims near Florida A&M University were six juveniles, including an 11-year-old, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell told reporters at a news conference late Saturday. — Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026 Fayette County District Attorney Mike Aubele said a juvenile shot Davis, calling it a domestic situation between Davis and his girlfriend when the juvenile stepped in to defend the woman. — Erika Stanish, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
  1. young
  2. childish
  3. adolescent
  4. kid
  5. immature
  6. inexperienced
  7. child
Adjective
  • That young Israelis are drifting right is in many ways a reflection of how Israeli society differs from other wealthy democracies.
    — Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But after Vucic conceded defeat Sunday evening, ecstatic young revelers filled the streets of Belgrade and ripped down the cordons around the encampment known as Caciland.
    — JOVANA GEC, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of young
Adjective
  • Yet my first response was a childish pride that Dad had been deemed important enough to attract Hoover’s attention.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • There has always been a childish aspect to him — in a good way — and his curiosity hasn’t dimmed even as his age has advanced.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • Many of us have watched the debate about links between social media use and adolescent mental health run for more than a decade without consensus, thanks in part to the lack of necessary measurement infrastructure to inform policymakers.
    — Ned Cooper, STAT, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This month, the brand has introduced a sixth scent with Havana Tonka—a decadent fragrance with nothing adolescent about it.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of adolescent
Noun
  • Soon after, the military ordered Lenio’s husband to return to the US, paving the way for Lenio and her kids to return as well, before a German court could take up the family’s case.
    — Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Difficult at times, balancing family and career and locations and dragging my kids here and there.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of kid
Adjective
  • The connective tissue between different models remains immature, and real transformation depends on it.
    — Chris Koehler, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Edamame Edamame, or immature soybeans, is naturally rich in both protein and fiber.
    — Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of immature
Adjective
  • Things won’t be at an elite level because this is still a young, inexperienced team.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Under Sorrells, attorneys representing the state often rely on equally inexperienced colleagues or, in some instances, opposing counsel, for training, sources said.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Noun
  • Its spacious third row remains a particularly compelling advantage for families who regularly transport several adults or older children.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026
  • People with chronic health conditions, pregnant women, young children and anyone 65 or older are at higher risk of developing complications from the flu, and Turner urged anyone fitting those categories to take extra precautions this season.
    — Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of child

Phrases Containing juvenile

Browse Nearby Words

juvenescent
juvenile
juvenile delinquent
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of satiate

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All