1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of juvenile
Michel Martin, NPR, 22 July 2025
The specimen, which is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil of the four, sold for multiples of its $4 million-$6 million estimate at Sotheby’s New York following a six-minute battle between six different bidders.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
First, provide people from target groups — say, juveniles aging out of foster care, or in Pipeboyd’s case, the Native American community — with an affordable place to stay and build community.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Adjective
Also, 80% of these children that start off in the adult system will end up going back to the juvenile system.
—Michel Martin, NPR, 22 July 2025
The specimen, which is the only juvenile Ceratosaurus fossil of the four, sold for multiples of its $4 million-$6 million estimate at Sotheby’s New York following a six-minute battle between six different bidders.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
Noun
All the sandbar sharks tracked in this study were likely immature, and their use of deep water aligns with what’s been seen in other parts of the world, like Western Australia, where juveniles favor offshore nursery grounds.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
First, provide people from target groups — say, juveniles aging out of foster care, or in Pipeboyd’s case, the Native American community — with an affordable place to stay and build community.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
Adjective
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And that enjoyment radiates out for Atlanta rap fans who were there for its heyday, while younger listeners are becoming acquainted with the heroes of that generation.—
Andre Gee,
Rolling Stone,
7 Aug. 2025
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Reserve time each day to reflect on internet use Face-to-face communication can make a huge difference for young people who are tending to stay online for long hours at a time.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There’s something mystical about him and a little bit childish.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
10 June 2025
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This does not imply that college students should be taught childish skills but rather acknowledges the need to foster emotional coping skills and positive relationships throughout the academic careers of students.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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His adolescent daughter Louise was standing beneath a big top in a rural French town preparing to enter the center ring.—
April White,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Aug. 2025
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Boys Go to Jupiter captures an adolescent malaise without talking down to its teens — there is no preaching about real jobs, responsibilities, or five-year plans.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
And just traveling the world with my kids and my wife, and being able to eat and explore different flavors with them, has turned into this.—
Kenneth J. Williams Jr,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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In it, captivating images showed Black kids in preppy and collegiate wear, lounging on the porches of million-dollar waterfront homes, overlooking Inkwell Beach.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
When the eggs hatch, the immature stages start feeding.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
5 Aug. 2025
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Why is the administration favoring advanced nuclear and next-gen geothermal which are commercially immature compared with wind and solar?—
Ian Dexter Palmer,
Forbes.com,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As the oldest of three children, Fitzgerald had also just started living on his own in Manhattan, per the obit.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Sharon, as well as her and Ozzy’s children, Jack and Aimee Osbourne, were attached to produce alongside Polygram’s Michele Anthony and David Blackman and Sony’s Andrea Giannetti.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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