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
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
Even if TikTok really is shut down in the United States by the end of the month, capping at least one spigot of puerile content, the damage will have been done.
—Helen Holmes, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puerile
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
Even if TikTok really is shut down in the United States by the end of the month, capping at least one spigot of puerile content, the damage will have been done.
—Helen Holmes, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puerile
Adjective
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Maybe this is just appealing to my simplest, most childish instincts, reacting to bright colours like a toddler might.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
-
When Smith drives us in the golf cart, hunched close to the wheel, a look of childish mischief spreads over his face.—
Sam Kestenbaum,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The film’s vintage patina doesn’t detract from rising actor Will Price’s confident performance as an immature mobster who prefers bitcoin to stacks of Benjamins.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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Unlike older drugs, this formula safely accounts for a baby’s immature metabolism.—
Kwesi Akonu Adom Mensah Forson,
The Conversation,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Banana Phone Song One of my favorite things about toddlers is their willingness to be goofy.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
30 Jan. 2026
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Sabrina Carpenter’s song about guys being goofy and Bad Bunny’s single about wishing to be more present in fleeting moments might’ve been more pertinent to a rough last year animated by masculine aggression.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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An adolescent, Romito 2, was laid to rest in the arms of Romito 1, believed to be an adult female.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
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When the proportion of benefit to burden for a patient is uncertain, parents should be supported, along with the child or adolescent, to make a decision that best aligns with their values and assessment.—
Amy Caruso Brown,
STAT,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The most common complaints include denying legitimate claims, partnering with inexperienced and unqualified service providers, poor service, and slow response times.—
Sharon Brandwein,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
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Had training standards slipped, pushing relatively inexperienced ski patrollers into dangerous situations?—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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On one memorable occasion when a Nazi came to town and threatened to burn a Q’uran and then march through the Somali neighborhood, water balloons and silly string.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Feb. 2026
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The whole idea seems silly, but its impact could potentially increase the cost of aviation and affect flight safety and operations.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In the end, Terry’s sons pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and arson and spent nearly a decade in juvenile detention.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
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The victim reported that while she and another juvenile female were seated in their vehicle, a man pulled in front of them in a separate vehicle and allegedly pointed a firearm at them.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Over the years, Joseph's family sent his dental and medical records to states where unidentified bodies of young boys and young men were found, the Northwest Times of Indiana reported in 2019.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Feb. 2026
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Same-store sales soared 7% for the quarter as its consistent release of new menu items lured in a variety of people, including high-income consumers, younger eaters and families.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Puerile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puerile. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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