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
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
Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026
The accused are young men who would have a better shot at rehabilitation in the juvenile-justice system, Gottlieb said.
—Sofia Saric
june 11, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
An unidentified juvenile was arrested in connection to the incident.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Adjective
These smolts are juvenile salmon and steelhead, usually no longer than 6 inches, making their way to the ocean.
—Idaho Statesman, 12 June 2026
The accused are young men who would have a better shot at rehabilitation in the juvenile-justice system, Gottlieb said.
—Sofia Saric
june 11, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
Noun
Aurora detectives ultimately developed information indicating that Herbert may have had similar interactions with other juveniles, based on evidence gathered during the investigation and reports made to law enforcement agencies, the department said previously.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
An unidentified juvenile was arrested in connection to the incident.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 16 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
Adjective
-
Moderate exercise has been shown to improve learning among students from elementary school through young adulthood, and the effects on attention, memory and executive function are well-documented, pediatricians say.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Star pitcher Logan Webb and several of the team's young major leaguers, however, are not expected to be put on the block.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
This one has a charming clover shape to make your space feel animated, but not childish.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
12 June 2026
-
The result feels comforting without skewing childish.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Witt has known the coach since his adolescent years.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
13 June 2026
-
Upward of a hundred promising adolescent boys, scouted as young as six, are admitted each year to live and train at the facility full time, in a system that resembles top youth-development programs in Europe and South America.—
Dan Greene,
New Yorker,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Take a bunch of kids who’ve never been out of East Tennessee.—
Holly Gleason,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
Your support will help ease the financial burden and give Pam and her kids a sense of hope and security.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The first thing a stressed cucumber plant will do is drop blossoms and immature fruit, says Gorlin-Crenshaw.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
18 June 2026
-
The repetition accounts for immature pollen grains and mediates weather challenges by offering multiple opportunities for the pollen to transfer to the stigma.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
At $18 or even $15 per hour, many companies don’t see value in hiring inexperienced teens who require extensive training to interact with customers, let alone achieve some measure of productivity.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
-
Lagway’s depature after 19 starts leaves the Gators to choose between two talented, yet inexperienced options with just one combined start — by Philo against Gardner-Webb in 2025.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
All proceeds to the sell-out show, which was simulcast on ESPN, benefited the Garden of Dreams Foundation, the MSG non-profit supporting children in need.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
20 June 2026
-
Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani was away from the team Friday for the birth of his second child with his wife, Mamiko.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
