puerile

adjective

ˈpyu̇(-ə)r-əl How to pronounce puerile (audio)
Definition of puerilenext
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

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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

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 puerile The latter’s taste for puerile subject matter and sing-song melodies plays into Swords2’s homage to early-’90s emo. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 10 Jan. 2026 The book, which has a decidedly feminist bent, becomes a surprise best-seller, and soon Penelope finds herself in Hollywood, surrounded by blowhard executives and puerile male screenwriters who want to adapt her work into a blockbuster. — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 The Twits are so gross and puerile and nasty in the book. — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 17 Oct. 2025 And with that puerile quarrel between stubborn warlords over the right to own and to rape a girl, Western literature begins. — Judith Thurman, The New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2023 See All Example Sentences for puerile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for puerile
  1. childish
  2. immature
  3. goofy
  4. adolescent
  5. inexperienced
  6. silly
  7. juvenile
  8. young
Adjective
  • There is a playful feeling to many PATTARAPHAN pieces, but this is not childish work.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • And also settling a very childish dispute between the airport and the contractors.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of childish
Adjective
  • There’s nothing wrong with holding on to childhood and being a little immature from time to time.
    — Loren Savini, Allure, 22 Aug. 2026
  • The acclaimed writer Rachel Cusk’s controversial new novel Life of M is an intimate, unvarnished character study of an A-list movie star who is depicted as hollow, immature and cynical, an intellectual poseur and an artist wannabe.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of immature
Adjective
  • So when Billie and Issa get an actual offer for drinks with two firefighters who come to the house, Billie puts on a goofy British accent à la Issa and turns them down, choosing a quiet night at home with her friend instead.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • That was therapeutic for these professional dancers who got to be silly and goofy, but confidently.
    — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of goofy
Adjective
  • But the increasing role of private equity firms is also driving up costs, with adolescent athletes looking at pricier options outside of rec leagues at younger and younger ages.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The National Institutes of Health found a 121% increase in adolescent overdose deaths between 2010 and 2021, a sobering reminder of the impact on schools.
    — Nathalia Fernandez, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of adolescent
Adjective
  • Anna will also be strong on offense and young, inexperienced defense.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And Fins have a secondary so inexperienced the guys might need asbestos uniforms against the expected torching.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of inexperienced
Adjective
  • Of course, challenges immediately present themselves, the silliest of which belongs to Samir and Paul Baker.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • In practice, a black-and-white hunk of metal sprinting into a wall looks silly.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • At Monday's news conference, Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison said the suspect, who had not yet been named, was not previously involved in the juvenile justice system.
    — Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Nikole Ramos was booked into jail and the teen was booked into juvenile hall for murder, police said.
    — Brandon Downs, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of juvenile
Adjective
  • At face value, young men exercising should not be reason to sound the alarms, and yet there is something treacherous about men in their formative years placing physical beauty as the ultimate expression of self-actualization.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026
  • From bustling city centres to local classrooms, thousands of young people will have the chance to take part.
    — K.J. Yossman, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of young

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pudgy
puerile
puerility
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Cite this Entry

“Puerile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/puerile. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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