puerile

adjective

ˈpyu̇(-ə)r-əl How to pronounce puerile (audio)
Definition of puerilenext
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

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 puerile The latter’s taste for puerile subject matter and sing-song melodies plays into Swords2’s homage to early-’90s emo. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 10 Jan. 2026 The book, which has a decidedly feminist bent, becomes a surprise best-seller, and soon Penelope finds herself in Hollywood, surrounded by blowhard executives and puerile male screenwriters who want to adapt her work into a blockbuster. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 The Twits are so gross and puerile and nasty in the book. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025 And with that puerile quarrel between stubborn warlords over the right to own and to rape a girl, Western literature begins. — Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for puerile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puerile
  1. childish
  2. immature
  3. goofy
  4. adolescent
  5. inexperienced
  6. silly
  7. juvenile
  8. young
Adjective
  • Yet my first response was a childish pride that Dad had been deemed important enough to attract Hoover’s attention.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • There has always been a childish aspect to him — in a good way — and his curiosity hasn’t dimmed even as his age has advanced.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • The immature eccentric initially has no plans to head back to the States, until Christy convinces him to stand tall and fight.
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Mestre sees opportunities to finance manufacturing expansion and consolidate Europe's fragmented defense supply chain, and considers the rapidly evolving drone market too immature for Weinberg's traditional buyout strategy.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of immature
Adjective
  • An alligator with a goofy sense of humor crawled through the back door of a North Carolina bagel shop, then stood at the front counter as if waiting to take someone’s order.
    — Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2026
  • His presence was transformative; Stewart made the goofiest, most easily disregarded TV franchise for nerds and nobodies into a work full of warmth and gravitas.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of goofy
Adjective
  • It was used in the 1820 Missouri Compromise to establish the limits of human bondage in the still adolescent United States and became synonymous with the fundamental divisions that exploded into the Civil War four decades later.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Ile began her career as an adolescent, singing backup vocals for Calle 13, the band started by her brothers, Residente and Visitante (René Pérez Joglar and Eduardo Cabra Martínez).
    — Helena Alonso Paisley, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of adolescent
Adjective
  • Anchored inexperienced defense that allowed 16 goals in 22 games.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Things won’t be at an elite level because this is still a young, inexperienced team.
    — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Adjective
  • What became apparent to us was that the game was like a sponge for silly ideas.
    — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 1 Nov. 2026
  • This week was packed with pre-midterm drama, of which only the silliest is in the quiz.
    — Holly J. Morris, NPR, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • The waiver, which ACS received in 2023, allowed the agency to place multiple juvenile detainees to sleep in hallways, classrooms and chapels, potentially restricting access to educational and other programming.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Directed by Claudia Estrada Tarascó, the film follows girls in a juvenile justice facility who bond over music and dreams of a Barcelona trap competition.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of juvenile
Adjective
  • Désir, a married father of two young children, is among several people accused of helping advance the conspiracy that culminated in Moïse’s killing.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Room for Disagreement Duke, the editor-in-chief, argues the publication reflects where younger American media consumers are heading.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of young

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pudgy
puerile
puerility
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Cite this Entry

“Puerile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puerile. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

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