ADOLESCENT Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

adolescent 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of adolescent

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

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

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

adolescent

2 of 2

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 adolescent

Adjective

The desire for teens to overhaul their look during high school is a healthy part of adolescent development. — Liz Regalia, Parents, 10 Aug. 2026 Child and adolescent family therapist Darby Fox explains how teens view social media. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026

Noun

Many factors can lead to substance use among adolescents, experts say, including their peers and family environments. — Avni Trivedi, CNN Money, 12 June 2026 In a 2025 study of 209 adolescents aged 10 to 17 who had a depressive or anxiety disorder, researchers examined iron deficiency and anxiety through brain scans and interviews. — Sarah Bence, Verywell Health, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for adolescent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent

Adjective

Prince Harry was already set to be in Britain next month for an annual ceremony run by WellChild, a charity that cares for seriously ill children and young people in the UK.

— Max Foster, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
The tinted windows looked out onto the courts where Richardson trained some of the best young female players in the Rio Grande Valley, but the glass was one-way, and from outside, nothing that happened in the room was visible.

— Molly Hensley-Clancy, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of young

Adjective

In the first stage, 3 to 6 months in a mouse [about 20 to 30 years in a human], there is a loss of certain fat and muscle cells, and of two immature cell types in the brain that have the capacity to regenerate different types of brain tissue.

— Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
The science remains too immature to show whether such behavior is inevitable, Hobbhahn says.

— Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of immature

Noun

Two other juveniles were injured, according to the Grand Prairie Police Department.

— Doug Myers, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
His adult co-defendant in Jackson’s killing was sentenced to 29 years, but juveniles, even those convicted of murder, cannot be held in custody in California beyond their 20s.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of juvenile

Adjective

Their quest is complicated by Hampton Squib, an inexperienced and wildly underprepared adventurer whose dream of heroism far exceeds his abilities.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Bass, who finished about 5 points ahead of Raman in the June primary, sought to portray her challenger as an inexperienced outsider who would struggle to build support at City Hall.

— Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of inexperienced

Noun

But as is the case for a lot of young talent in the soccer industry, the teenager quickly became a commodity.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Kloie attended Centennial High School in Bakersfield, and the school’s softball team paid tribute to the late teenager on social media.

— Adam England, PEOPLE, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of teenager

Noun

The 34-year-old gave birth there to all three kids, Levi, 5, Elijah, 3, and Rae, who turns 1 in September.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026
Just as many people can’t afford to have someone else clean their homes, landscape their yards or nanny their kids, those struggling to make ends meet may need to lean on AI assistance.

— Billy J. Stratton, The Conversation, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of kid

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adolescences

adolescent

adolescents

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Style

“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of adolescent

adjective

noun

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