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.
The story is simple, even puerile.
...puerile, schoolboy humour.
Synonyms: childish, juvenile, naive, weak More Synonyms of puerile
puerile in British English
(ˈpjʊəraɪl)
adjective
1.
exhibiting silliness; immature; trivial
2.
of or characteristic of a child
Derived forms
puerilely (ˈpuerilely)
adverb
puerility (pjʊəˈrɪlɪtɪ)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin puerīlis childish, from puer a boy
puerile in American English
(ˈpjuərəl; ˈpjʊrəl; ˈpjuərˌaɪl)
adjective
childish; silly; immature; trivial
SIMILAR WORDS: young
Derived forms
puerilely (ˈpuerilely)
adverb
Word origin
< Fr or L: Fr puéril < L puerilis < puer, boy: see poultry
Examples of 'puerile' in a sentence
puerile
Such childish antics and puerile reasoning are endangering sponsorship at the very moment when the arts most need it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Such childish antics and puerile reasoning are endangering sponsorship at the verymoment when the arts most need it.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
At times the humour is too puerile.
The Sun (2009)
In fact give it one for humour, another for puerile jokes and a third for gore.
The Sun (2015)
THIS is a sad day for people like me who have a puerile sense of humour.
The Sun (2012)
The only surprise in all the puerile humour is just how sour the film's view of marriage is.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Maybe you think I have a puerile sense of humour.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His storytelling comedy is sometimes puerile, sometimes profound, always warm.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
He is therefore far more interesting for what he represents than for his sporting profile or for the reputation he has gained for tedious, puerile antics.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
To be brutally honest, I often find his sense of humour tedious and puerile.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
(adjective)
Definition
silly and childish
puerile schoolboy humour
Synonyms
childish
I've never seen such selfish and childish behaviour.
juvenile
a scheme to rehibilitate persistent juvenile offenders
naive
weak
silly
That's a silly thing to say.
ridiculous
It was an absolutely ridiculous decision.
foolish
How foolish I was not to have seen my doctor earlier.
petty
trivial
irresponsible
immature
You're just being childish and immature.
infantile
This kind of humour is infantile and boring.
inane
He always had this inane grin.
babyish
I'm ashamed of the babyish nonsense I write.
jejune (formal)
They were of great service in correcting my jejune generalizations.
Opposites
adult
,
mature
,
responsible
,
sensible
,
grown-up
Additional synonyms
in the sense of babyish
I'm ashamed of the babyish nonsense I write.
Synonyms
childish,
young,
simple,
soft (informal),
silly,
spoiled,
juvenile,
foolish,
immature,
boyish or girlish,
infantile,
sissy,
puerile,
namby-pamby,
baby
in the sense of foolish
Definition
very silly, unwise, or absurd
How foolish I was not to have seen my doctor earlier.
Synonyms
silly,
stupid,
mad,
daft (informal),
simple,
weak,
crazy (informal),
ridiculous,
dumb (informal),
ludicrous,
senseless,
barmy (slang),
potty (British, informal),
goofy (informal),
idiotic,
half-baked (informal),
dotty (slang),
inane,
fatuous,
loopy (informal),
witless,
crackpot (informal),
moronic,
brainless,
half-witted,
imbecilic,
off your head (informal),
braindead (informal),
harebrained,
as daft as a brush (informal, British),
dumb-ass (slang),
doltish
in the sense of immature
Definition
lacking wisdom, insight, or stability because of youth
You're just being childish and immature.
Synonyms
childish,
juvenile,
infantile,
puerile,
callow,
babyish,
wet behind the ears (informal),
jejune
Nearby words of
puerile
puckish
pudding
puddle
puerile
puff
puff out or up
puffed
Synonyms of 'puerile'
puerile
Explore 'puerile' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inane
Definition
senseless or silly
He always had this inane grin.
Synonyms
senseless,
stupid,
silly,
empty,
daft (informal),
worthless,
futile,
trifling,
frivolous,
mindless,
goofy (informal),
idiotic,
vacuous,
fatuous,
puerile,
vapid,
unintelligent,
asinine,
imbecilic,
devoid of intelligence
in the sense of infantile
Definition
childishly immature
This kind of humour is infantile and boring.
Synonyms
childish,
immature,
puerile,
babyish,
young,
weak
in the sense of jejune
Definition
simple and unsophisticated
They were of great service in correcting my jejune generalizations.
Synonyms
simple,
silly,
juvenile,
naive,
pointless,
childish,
immature,
senseless,
unsophisticated,
puerile
in the sense of juvenile
Definition
young
a scheme to rehibilitate persistent juvenile offenders