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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
as in juvenile
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of adolescent
Chase Strangio, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Still, Lowery puts care and consideration into his characters, especially the adolescent Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson), whose reluctance to grow up leads her to Neverland along with her younger brothers.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
Research shows that the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy is extremely rare among U.S. adolescents who identify as transgender or gender diverse.
—Daphne Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for adolescent 
Adjective
To ensure that their adolescent children do not suffer, many families now travel hundreds of miles for care or move to different states.
—Chase Strangio, TIME, 21 Jan. 2025
Still, Lowery puts care and consideration into his characters, especially the adolescent Wendy Darling (Ever Anderson), whose reluctance to grow up leads her to Neverland along with her younger brothers.
—Josh Bell, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
The Pitts brood, including adolescents and youngest daughter Onjel, then 2, the same age as Dolen son Sean, moved into Chris and John Dolen’s three bedroom home for about six weeks, Pitts’ wife Marilyn recalls.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
Research shows that the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy is extremely rare among U.S. adolescents who identify as transgender or gender diverse.
—Daphne Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for adolescent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adolescent
Adjective
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And fellow young Republicans are celebrating having one of their own join the executive branch for the first time.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA TODAY,
11 Feb. 2025
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Her younger sister Rumi (who happens to be one half of a twin) matched her fly, wearing a black and white Amiri varsity jacket, light wash blue jeans, and Amiri’s cute Ma Canvas camera case.—
Elizabeth Ayoola,
Essence,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And also Gary's behavior back towards Glenn on that was just quite a bit childish.—
Gina Ragusa,
EW.com,
3 Feb. 2025
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Your brother’s behavior is passive-aggressive and childish.—
Jeanne Phillips,
The Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Edamame Edamame are immature green soybeans high in protein, fiber, iron, vitamin C, and calcium.—
Jamie Johnson,
Verywell Health,
6 Feb. 2025
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People who are emotionally immature often won’t take responsibility for their own actions when something goes wrong.—
Kathy and Ross Petras, Contributors,
CNBC,
1 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Some of the positives noted have been less intakes for juveniles at the jail, and improvement in bed placement at Carver County for many juveniles in need of secure detention.—
Alex Malm,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
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After Beaver Dam police took the report of a missing juvenile on Monday, Feb. 3, police said the car had an Arkansas license plate with the number BBR 20L.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The infantile abomination that is The Boss Baby is the most unhinged example of the studio’s manic folly.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2025
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But, true to form, Abbott doesn’t self-righteously shove these issues in our faces, lecturing on about statistics or writing the students as infantile or helpless.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Yet the character genuinely loves his family, including younger siblings Piper (Sarah Catherine Hook), a college student, and teenager Lochlan (Sam Nivola).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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The teenager, who is heading to play golf competitively at the University of Miami, wore the company’s Luxe Lounge mid-weight quarter-zip pull over.—
Mikelle Street,
WWD,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Scammers — with access to kids’ names and school information — are tricking parents into paying for bogus SAT and ACT prep materials.—
Jan Diaz,
USA TODAY,
19 Feb. 2025
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Vaccinating infants and young children is widely recommended as a way to prevent kids from being exposed to life-threatening diseases like measles and to protect other children in school.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Bentaleb, a native of Lille who spent time at the club’s academy as a youngster before joining them permanently in 2023, has also played for German club Schalke and has 52 caps for Algeria, playing in the 2014 World Cup.—
Sam Joseph,
The Athletic,
17 Feb. 2025
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At some point, the ideologies must combine — youngsters with little to no pro experience need more first-team minutes.—
Braidon Nourse,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near adolescent
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adolescent. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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