1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
an adolescent sheepdog, who hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping the sheep huddled together
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
would hope that the college students had outgrown such adolescent behavior
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in immature
lacking in adult experience or maturity
took a group of adolescent recruits and turned them into professional warriors
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adolescent
Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
The Silent Years Becoming famously known for such a traumatic event took a huge toll on me as a kid and followed me well into my adolescent years.
—Midsi Sanchez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Unfolding in 1870s Oxford with adventures abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Adjective
The American Psychological Association issued a health advisory on AI and adolescent well-being.
—Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
The Silent Years Becoming famously known for such a traumatic event took a huge toll on me as a kid and followed me well into my adolescent years.
—Midsi Sanchez, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
An innate knack for pinball catapults him from reticent adolescent to celebrity savior.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 5 Mar. 2026
Unfolding in 1870s Oxford with adventures abroad, the series will expose the early antics of the anarchic adolescent who is yet to evolve into Baker Street’s most renowned resident.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
-
His mom likes another young lady for her son, not my daughter.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This particular adaptation bookends the story with the character Alba (played in young adulthood by Rocío Hernández), the granddaughter of the clairvoyant matriarch Clara del Valle (played in older age by Dolores Fonzi) and the conservative, volatile patriarch Esteban Trueba (Alfonso Herrera).—
Laura Zornosa,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That’s as childish an expression as the show ever shares.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
13 Apr. 2026
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The use of childish internet and video-game memes to describe violence is coarse and unworthy of the men and women who go in harm’s way.—
Eliot A. Cohen,
The Atlantic,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Only this week, Conway doubled down with a stunt in front of Mfume’s district office, an act that would be immature and juvenile in an elementary school student government election, let alone a campaign for Congress.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
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Faced with the prospect of deciding between Urlacher, a late bloomer in high school who almost wasn’t recruited before becoming a college All-American, and Michigan State receiver Plaxico Burress, regarded throughout the NFL as gifted but immature, the Bears did not have to choose.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Certainly, there’s anecdotal evidence where upward of 200 juveniles will gather at a mall.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
-
The court system has thus far treated Young as a juvenile.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Not for infantile name calling.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
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Among them was a treatment option for infantile hypophosphatasia, a rare form of rickets that makes children’s bones dangerously fragile.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Maybe the bright lights of a win-or-go-home playoff game proved too big of a moment for a young, inexperienced Hawks team.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
Edmonton showed off its postseason poise in Game 5, throttling the Ducks in a 4-1 victory and putting the onus on their inexperienced opponents to finish off the series.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The parents of Celeste Rivas Hernandez were cleared of allegations of child neglect and abuse in the months before authorities say the teenager was murdered and dismembered by singer D4vd, who now faces a possible death sentence for the slaying.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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Van Pelt and her husband, Andrew, who met as teenagers at a California college, moved around for a while, before settling in Wheaton, next door to his hometown of Geneva.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Charles, who is well-known for his love of nature and the importance of sustainability, fed chickens in a coop together with the kids.—
Emma Caughlan,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The kid from Istanbul’s streets was not an aberration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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