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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in goofy
lacking in seriousness or maturity
the kind of puerile jokes that teenage moviegoers apparently love
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
Lamar and his family, in this reading, are Edenic figures, inaugurating a new sort of American iconography, descended from Wood and Parks but breaking from them as well, born from the aftermath of a great—if also sometimes regrettably puerile—battle.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024
Trump’s supporters turn the tables on his puerile critics.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
The whole matter is puerile, and Sheriff Gahler should accept he’s met his match in Cassilly.
—Aegis Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Helen Holmes, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2025
Lamar and his family, in this reading, are Edenic figures, inaugurating a new sort of American iconography, descended from Wood and Parks but breaking from them as well, born from the aftermath of a great—if also sometimes regrettably puerile—battle.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024
Trump’s supporters turn the tables on his puerile critics.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2024
The whole matter is puerile, and Sheriff Gahler should accept he’s met his match in Cassilly.
—Aegis Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 29 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puerile
Adjective
-
For decades, bartenders have been defaming the Mai Tai, debasing it, making and selling versions of the drink that were childish and incomplex, saccharine and flat.—
Jason O'Bryan,
Robb Report,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Although childish and superficial, his renaming the Department of Defense as the Department of War doesn’t telegraph a love of peace.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There was no data on frequency, dose, or method of cannabis consumption, and only immature eggs, which are less ideal for reproduction, were available for lab experiments.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Sep. 2025
-
When immature eggs—known as oocytes, which are eggs that have not yet fully developed to the stage where they can be fertilized—were exposed to THC at levels similar to those detected in patients, researchers observed more frequent chromosome errors.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Afterlife movies tend to be amiable in a goofy way, one that ends up tamping down the stakes.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Hope Anne is goofy, affectionate, full of zest, and has so much love to give.—
Trish Stinger,
Kansas City Star,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But in recent years, psychologists, sociologists and concerned parents alike have noticed a growing number of young adults who seem caught in this adolescent quicksand — unable or unwilling to take the next step into adulthood.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Advertisement Advertisement Boston Children’s Hospital was home to the first pediatric and adolescent transgender health program in the nation, according to court documents.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Clearly frustrated, Palencia gave up five runs and recorded zero outs during the ninth inning of that 6-3 loss to the Washington Nationals, a last-place team with a largely inexperienced and nondescript lineup.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Having won five straight Ryder Cups and 12 of the last 13, the American team entered as the heavy favorite despite fielding a relatively inexperienced squad.—
Tim Corlett,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Mea Culpa is Perry at his most knowingly silly, and a throwback to erotic thrillers of decades past.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For every community of mass-shooter fandoms, there is another that is silly, joyous, productive, or totally harmless.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As the consequences of permanent records became clear—blocking access to jobs, housing, and education—states began experimenting with mechanisms to seal or expunge certain convictions, usually for first-time or juvenile offenders.—
Walter Pavlo,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Unlike natural thinning, large fire-resilient trees are typically high-graded for felling in Jackson, creating tinderboxes of 300 to 500 mostly juvenile trees per acre.—
John P. O’Brien,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The Kirks have two young children.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Here’s what each royal inherited from Queen Elizabeth So, the King’s decision to meet with his youngest son doesn’t just put him in direct opposition to Prince William, but also one of his closest advisors.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puerile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puerile. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share