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
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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
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
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Recent Examples of juvenile
Nik Popli, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Staff at Colorado’s juvenile detention centers violated policies meant to protect youth during strip searches more than 1,000 times during nine months between 2023 and 2025, according to a new review by the Child Protection Ombudsman of Colorado released Tuesday.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Cases are still pending against two other juveniles charged in connections with the Red, White and Blue Ash disturbance.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Adjective
Democrats denounced the video as racist and juvenile.
—Nik Popli, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Staff at Colorado’s juvenile detention centers violated policies meant to protect youth during strip searches more than 1,000 times during nine months between 2023 and 2025, according to a new review by the Child Protection Ombudsman of Colorado released Tuesday.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
Two adults and three juveniles died as a result of the blaze.
—Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2025
Cases are still pending against two other juveniles charged in connections with the Red, White and Blue Ash disturbance.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
Adjective
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Pathways for young English players are increasingly threatened, even in the post-Brexit era, where recruitment of academy footballers from abroad is restricted.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Jones first rose to prominence during his time as a standout at Syracuse University alongside his younger brother, fellow former NFL star Chandler Jones, from 2006 to 2009, before going on to get drafted in the fifth round of the 2010 NFL Draft.—
Reice Shipley,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Marta’s brothers sobbed with the desperation of years, with childish anguish.—
Mariana Enriquez
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer referred to an earlier video, also featuring Jeffries in a sombrero, as childish and evidence that the White House and the GOP were unserious about the shutdown.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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According to Andrea Lunn, an integrative child and adolescent psychotherapeutic counsellor, Haines's experience reflects how attachment works in practice.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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But ever since Wembanyama was an adolescent, he has been locked in a battle against history and time.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
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After a long day of activity, reward the kids with a treat from The Cake Bake Shop or Graeter’s Ice Cream.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
4 Oct. 2025
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Many autistic kids are drawn to water, regardless of its temperature, because water offers a calming sensory effect.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Commenting on Taiwan’s possible nuclear options, Jusen Asuka, a professor at Tohoku University and chair of the session in the conference, cautioned that SMRs remain immature and costly, and investing heavily in them could slow renewable energy development.—
Yu-Tzu Chiu,
IEEE Spectrum,
2 Oct. 2025
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In some cases, these are labelled as muscular injuries but Monasterio warns players at these ages are still skeletally immature in these regions.—
Sarah Shephard,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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By the way, Valera wasn’t the only inexperienced Guardian to make a pivotal play.—
Levi Weaver,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Fleck said that type of at-the-line adjustment is atypical for such an inexperienced player; Lindsey was making only his fourth collegiate start.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Morris, 64, entered guilty pleas to five felony counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child in an Osage County courtroom.—
Nolan Clay,
USA Today,
3 Oct. 2025
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Some schools offer tuition discounts if multiple children from the same family are enrolled.—
Rachel Wegner,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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