1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development
a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in childish
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
throwing a tantrum is rather juvenile behavior for a person of your age
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adolescent
lacking in adult experience or maturity
a spoiled, juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood
a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of juvenile
Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Though the state monitors cases involving adults, juvenile mental health court records are not reported to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background System.
—Maria Leontaras, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Two adults and three juveniles were in the second vehicle.
—Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Adjective
More than two years after a riot broke out at a Kentucky juvenile detention center, during which several employees were assaulted and a teen girl was raped, a Louisville teen accused of participating in the crimes is set to stand trial.
—Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Though the state monitors cases involving adults, juvenile mental health court records are not reported to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background System.
—Maria Leontaras, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Noun
City officials credited the curfew enforcement in part for a 7% decrease in summer juvenile arrests from 2023 to 2024, according to News 12.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 8 July 2025
Two adults and three juveniles were in the second vehicle.
—Kansas City Star, 5 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for juvenile
Adjective
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The core group of young professionals, both men and women aged 25-35, is joined by the next gen category of those age 18-24, now about a quarter of the business.—
Tim Newcomb,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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The new regulations do, however, include a reduction in authorized nicotine levels in vaping products, as well as strict limits on flavors like cotton candy, which critics say are designed to appeal to young people.—
Lisa Klaassen,
CNN Money,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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His comment about Shildt mad dogging him was childish and hilarious.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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But their tit for tat antics on social media have come across as particularly childish given their immense wealth and responsibilities.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Whatever the answer, the most enjoyable parts of Friday’s concert offered more than just a chance for attendees to revisit their adolescent years in song by channeling anew feelings of young love, longing and fresh-faced angst.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
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And a study published in The Lancet that examined the prevalence of adolescent depression among English youth suggested that increased sedentary behavior in adolescence could affect a person’s mental health into adulthood.—
Henry Abbott,
The Atlantic,
12 July 2025
Noun
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Does a person with this much contempt for texts by day insist on reading aloud to his kids at night?—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
12 July 2025
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This is especially good for those staple items kids are always using – notebooks, binders, folders, colored pencils, pens and more.—
Kaitlyn Keegan,
Hartford Courant,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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There are three immature stages that are black and white, with the fourth stage being red, black and white before becoming adults later in the summer.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
14 July 2025
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To be effective the spray has to cover the immature stages.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Noun
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The Elmore County Sheriff’s Office and Elmore County paramedics responded to a call at 1:47 p.m. Saturday about an object piercing a windshield and injuring a child, the Sheriff’s Office said Monday in a news release.—
Sally Krutzig,
Idaho Statesman,
14 July 2025
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Around this time, a person broke a window and successfully rescued a child from the home while flames began to spread, police said.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/juvenile. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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