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- Dictionarypuerile/ˈpjʊərʌɪl/
adjective
- 1. childishly silly and immature: "a puerile argument"
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Nowadays, puerile can describe the acts or utterances of an actual child, but it more often refers (usually with marked disapproval) to occurrences of childishness where adult maturity would be expected or preferred.
behaving in a silly way, not like an adult: I find his sense of humour rather puerile. Synonyms. childish disapproving. immature disapproving. juvenile disapproving. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Physically and mentally mature & immature. adulting. ageing. babyish. childish. immaturely. immaturity. infantile. juvenile. mature.
behaving in a silly way, not like an adult: I find his sense of humor rather puerile. Synonyms. childish disapproving. immature disapproving. juvenile disapproving. SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases. Physically and mentally mature & immature. adulting. aging. babyish. childish. immaturely. immaturity. infantile. juvenile. mature. maturity
There are four meanings listed in OED's entry for the word puerile, one of which is labelled obsolete, and one of which is considered derogatory. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.
Although the adjective, puerile can be used to describe anything related to childhood, more often than not, it is used in a derisive manner to comment on the immaturity, silliness, or juvenile nature of something or someone.
1. puerile - of or characteristic of a child; "puerile breathing". 2. puerile - displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity; "adolescent insecurity"; "jejune responses to our problems"; "their behavior was juvenile"; "puerile jokes". jejune, juvenile, adolescent.
silly; suitable for a child rather than an adult synonym childish. Want to learn more? Definition of puerile adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
If you describe someone or something as puerile, you mean that they are silly and childish. [ disapproval ] Concert organisers branded the group's actions as puerile.
If you describe someone or something as puerile, you mean that they are silly and childish.
adjective. of or relating to a child or to childhood. Synonyms: juvenile, youthful. childishly foolish; immature or trivial: a puerile piece of writing. Synonyms: silly, juvenile. puerile. / ˈpjʊəraɪl; pjʊəˈrɪlɪtɪ /.
