as in boy
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood
the young boxer looked like a mere stripling next to his larger, more seasoned opponent
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Recent Examples of stripling
Mickey Mouse will celebrate his 100th birthday in 2028; now in its 46th year, ESPN is a mere stripling compared to the chipper murine in the funny red pants.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
More important still, thrilling these ultra-cultured striplings means winning over mom and dad, too.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 25 June 2023
In Dunst’s hands, Antoinette is naturally happy, an excitable stripling full of life — the sort of protagonist you’d root for simply because the performer inhabiting her is so agreeable.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2021
Best-selling author Margaret George has just published a novel repackaging the Roman emperor Nero, whose name has evoked mayhem and recreational pyromania for the past 2,000 years, as a misunderstood stripling.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 5 May 2017
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Mar. 2026
More important still, thrilling these ultra-cultured striplings means winning over mom and dad, too.
—Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 25 June 2023
In Dunst’s hands, Antoinette is naturally happy, an excitable stripling full of life — the sort of protagonist you’d root for simply because the performer inhabiting her is so agreeable.
—Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2021
Best-selling author Margaret George has just published a novel repackaging the Roman emperor Nero, whose name has evoked mayhem and recreational pyromania for the past 2,000 years, as a misunderstood stripling.
—Joe Queenan, WSJ, 5 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stripling
Noun
-
The Highlanders all-underclass boys team lost four tiebreakers in a heartbreaking 4-3 semifinal loss against Alonso Mourning of Miami.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Mary Brown retired after coaching boys and girls volleyball in the district for 19 years, including the past eight years with the Knights’ boys team.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This place was incredible, and got to enjoy it with some good lads.—
Emily Krauser,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
-
And all because of stories this very best lad had written!—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Some of the investors and CEOs competing for teenagers have good reputations.—
Theo Baker,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Clark-Flory’s was a memoir, My Mother’s Daughter, about a DNA test connecting her with her sister, who her mom placed for adoption as a teenager at a home for unwed mothers in the 1960s.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 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
Noun
-
As an adolescent, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and struggled through school.—
Jen Murphy,
Robb Report,
26 Apr. 2026
-
He was brought to the center as an adolescent with a broken wing (possibly due to a collision with a car) and can no longer fly properly.—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stripling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stripling. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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