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
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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
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Recent Examples of puerile
The reflexive response to the sight of André Onana standing, yet again, with his head bowed and his shoulders slumped after Manchester United’s gloriously puerile draw with Galatasaray on Wednesday is sympathy.
—
Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
Trump is, always and forever, a puerile bully, stuck perpetually on the fifth-grade playground.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024
The inexplicable twists are interspersed with puerile action scenes.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
Hoping to usurp him from the throne, Kuzco's advisor, Yzma (Eartha Kitt), cooks up a plot to poison the puerile figurehead.
—Devin Nealy, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Rory Smith, New York Times, 1 Dec. 2023
Trump is, always and forever, a puerile bully, stuck perpetually on the fifth-grade playground.
—Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2024
The inexplicable twists are interspersed with puerile action scenes.
—Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2024
Hoping to usurp him from the throne, Kuzco's advisor, Yzma (Eartha Kitt), cooks up a plot to poison the puerile figurehead.
—Devin Nealy, EW.com, 16 Oct. 2023
See All Example Sentences for puerile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puerile
Adjective
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The Empire is a manifesto opposing the most corrupt, childish film genre.—
Armond White,
National Review,
14 Mar. 2025
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Trump Turnberry calls pro-Palestinian group's actions a 'childish, criminal act' Police in Scotland said officers were investigating after receiving a report about the golf course being damaged around 4:40 a.m., a spokesperson for the department told Reuters and Fox News.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA TODAY,
10 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The series follows the (fictional) famous televangelist family of the Gemstones, led by widowed patriarch Eli (played by John Goodman) alongside his immature children Jesse (Danny McBride), Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam DeVine).—
Kirsten Chuba,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Mar. 2025
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The son of a Russian oligarch, Vanya is immature, perpetually stoned, and supposed to be using his time in the States to study.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Dark Winds took an explicit turn with its social and political commentary in its second season; as a result, the dialogue occasionally veered into goofy literalness, and many of its heavy-handed lines were given to Emma.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2025
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There’s a Moon Alert all day, which adds to the delays and goofy energy and restricts your spending to food and gas.—
Georgia Nicols,
The Denver Post,
16 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The victim was also found to be developmentally delayed with an adolescent cognitive level, the warrant affidavit said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2025
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Related: New 'Girl Goals' report shows uneven progress for adolescent girls.—
Maryanne Murray Buechner,
Forbes,
12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Finally, its focus on physics means that things get silly pretty quickly, which makes for very shareable moments and clips.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
17 Mar. 2025
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Dozen Bakery off Nolensville Pike is celebrating this silliest of holidays with special pies and quiche.—
Adam Tamburin,
Axios,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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All five suspects were booked into juvenile hall or jail custody.—
Robert Salonga,
The Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2025
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The American people deserve better than petty, juvenile stunts in one of the most sacred chambers of government.—
Tommy Tuberville,
Newsweek,
6 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The study followed adults younger than 50 who didn’t have any comorbidities from 2010 to 2018.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
18 Mar. 2025
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There were children as young as three years old having their first experience on the slopes to seasoned skiers whizzing down steep trails.—
Brittany Vickers,
Essence,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The data suggests that market timing is not a futile exercise but a skill - one that, like any other, is unevenly distributed and requires both technological sophistication and human insight to exploit effectively.—
Steven Desmyter,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Former Vice President Mohammad-Ali Abtahi dismissed negotiations with Trump as futile, arguing that Trump's leadership made diplomacy ineffective.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Puerile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puerile. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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