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 Wilson brothers [Owen and Luke] are Dallas boys.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Even a little boy walked up to her and asked to give her a hug.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And all because of stories this very best lad had written!—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
-
However, adopted son Carter (Finn Little) is a strapping lad now and even has a girlfriend.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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According to attorneys, Coleman, his teammate, and two other teenagers were passing around a gun for fun when it was accidentally fired.—
Adi Guajardo,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The core audience is not teenagers.—
Kennedy French,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Watch this video for tips on finding age-appropriate books for kids.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The former Fortune 100 company marketing executive rescued a white rabbit that a family with kids no longer wanted.—
Sharon Chin,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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An adolescent with severe menstrual pain and vomiting may first present to a pediatrician.—
Sarah Berg,
STAT,
26 Mar. 2026
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As an adolescent in the Bay area, Celebrini spent a lot of time at the Warriors practice facility with his father, getting close to an NBA team filled with household names.—
Dan Robson,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stripling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stripling. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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