Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

juvenile

adjective

Synonyms and Antonyms of juvenile

1 being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
  • a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg
Synonyms of juvenile

adolescent, immature, young, youngish, youthful
Words Related to juvenile

ephebic, minor, preteen, subadult, teenage (or teenaged), underage

embryonic, emergent

callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw

babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish

undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened

blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering
Near Antonyms of juvenile

aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, oldish, senescent, senior

full-blown, full-fledged

golden, mellow, ripe, ripened

middle-aged

anile, decrepit, doddering, over-the-hill, senile, spavined, tottery
Antonyms of juvenile

adult, grown-up, mature, matured
2 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 of juvenile

adolescent, babyish, childish, immature, infantile, jejune, kiddish, puerile
Words Related to juvenile

boyish, brattish, bratty, girlie (or girly), girlish

childlike, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simplistic, unsophisticated
Near Antonyms of juvenile

unchildlike

cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, smart, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise
Antonyms of juvenile

adult, grown-up, mature
3 lacking in adult experience or maturity
  • a juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully
Synonyms of juvenile

adolescent, callow, green, immature, inexperienced, puerile, raw, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened
Words Related to juvenile

babyish, childish, infantile, infantilized, infantine

boyish, girlish, kiddish, young, youngish, youthful

ingenuous, innocent, naive (or naïve), tender

unknowing, unseasoned, unsophisticated, untrained, untried
Phrases Synonymous with juvenile

wet behind the ears
Near Antonyms of juvenile

advanced, precocious

knowing, savvy, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise
Antonyms of juvenile

adult, experienced, grown-up, mature, ripe

juvenile

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of juvenile

a young person who is between infancy and adulthood
  • a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood
Synonyms of juvenile

bambino, bud, chick, child, cub, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, moppet, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth
Words Related to juvenile

adolescent, minor

kindergartner (also kindergartener), preschooler, rug rat [slang], schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid

babe, baby, bantling, infant, neonate, nestling, newborn, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike), weanling

brat, devil, hellion, imp, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper

cherub

preteen, preteen-ager, subteen, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween

lad, nipper, shaver, stripling, tad

bobby-soxer, hoyden, tomboy
Near Antonyms of juvenile

middle-ager

ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen
Antonyms of juvenile

adult, grown-up

Learn More about juvenile

  1. See words that rhyme with juvenile Dictionary: Definition of juvenile Medical Dictionary: Definition of juvenile Spanish Central: Translation of juvenile Nglish: Translation of juvenile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of juvenile for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up juvenile? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games