1
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
told the teenagers that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immature
lacking in adult experience or maturity
allowed the company to be taken over by a bunch of puerile whippersnappers fresh out of business school
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in goofy
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the kind of puerile jokes that teenage moviegoers apparently love
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of puerile
The Twits are so gross and puerile and nasty in the book.
—
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
Worse, though, than such puerile behavior is what Dhillon embodies: an us-vs.-them attitude that permeates the administration and treats those who didn’t vote for Trump — which is more than half the country — as a target.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025
Far-right conservatives have periodically dragged this bit of puerile, 19th-century chauvinism into the public square to reassure doubters that patriotism is alive and well.
—Emery J Cummins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Comparing the two is puerile, even by politicians’ standards.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025
Worse, though, than such puerile behavior is what Dhillon embodies: an us-vs.-them attitude that permeates the administration and treats those who didn’t vote for Trump — which is more than half the country — as a target.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 10 Oct. 2025
Far-right conservatives have periodically dragged this bit of puerile, 19th-century chauvinism into the public square to reassure doubters that patriotism is alive and well.
—Emery J Cummins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Comparing the two is puerile, even by politicians’ standards.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puerile
Adjective
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Hence the childish clown imagery in an era before coulrophobia was widely talked about.—
Fielding Buck,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
-
However, Robbie’s performance keeps Cathy’s childish nature intact with many obsessive outbursts.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Boycotting a State of the Union is immature and inappropriate.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Edamame are young, immature soybeans.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But this movie gets to show so many different types of personalities and characters and boldness and fearlessness, and these su- per-hot, badass women who are also goofy, silly and cute.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
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And for one of our goofier episodes, that's a real human, truthful, universal, elegant, touching speech.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet despite these gains, new infections remain a concern, particularly among adolescent girls and young women.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Feb. 2026
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As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Zishan Khan Khan.—
Beth Ann Mayer,
Parents,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The president has directed the department to pursue his personal enemies and has replaced career DOJ employees with inexperienced MAGA loyalists, sometimes to the detriment of his own agenda.—
Will Gottsegen,
The Atlantic,
20 Feb. 2026
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Even on a good day, the area is not for the inexperienced.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Maybe the Pac-12 and Mountain West will look silly for not buying in, then watch as the NFC West bids against the Premier League and Marvel Cinematic Universe for the Hornets.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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Since then, the fizzy dance challenge has exploded on TikTok, with tons of fans re-creating the clip’s silly dance moves in their kitchens, parking garages, living rooms, Times Square and hospital corridors.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The controversial law, Assembly Bill 218, has led to thousands of claims over abuse that took place in schools, juvenile halls and foster homes.—
Rebecca Ellis,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
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The more effective and responsible approach is to advocate for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety to construct, staff, and operate a dedicated juvenile facility in Mecklenburg County.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These are the growing number of young men who are dropouts, do not work or have meaningful or fulfilling jobs, do not marry, have no children, few friends, and live in the basement of their parents’ home.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
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Gentry Academy is a young program, which earned its own championship — in Class A — in its lone state appearance in 2021.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puerile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puerile. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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