young 1 of 2

adjective

ˈyəŋ How to pronounce young (audio)
Definition of youngnext
as in youthful
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development a young cat requires more food than an older one a young tree that will eventually reach 50 feet tall

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

young

2 of 2

noun

as in offspring

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Dissimilar Words

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 young
Adjective
While veterans jockey for new contracts during free agency, young players are getting their tryout opportunities with NBA summer league games beginning this week. — Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026 Despite the widespread support in the Assembly, the bill faced a wide array of opposition that included trade groups for large social media companies, organizations that support young people and advocates for digital privacy. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Noun
Understanding New Wood Hydrangeas Hydrangeas that bloom on new wood produce flower buds on tender young stems that emerges in spring. — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Apr. 2026 Gambling is ubiquitous in Illinois, and it is projected to expand dramatically, especially among the vulnerable young. — Jim Nowlan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for young
Recent Examples of Synonyms for young
  1. youthful
  2. offspring
  3. juvenile
  4. brood
  5. immature
  6. hatch
  7. adolescent
  8. progeny
Adjective
  • With its stylish squid kids blasting each other while dressed in the freshest urban styles, the Splatoon franchise is Nintendo’s most modern and youthful series.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 30 June 2026
  • That’s where Monday found the Nets, between youthful belief and organizational patience.
    — C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026
Definition of youthful
Noun
  • After several generations, those faster-growing cells produced more offspring and became increasingly common in the population, demonstrating a basic form of natural selection.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • Instead, the system simply makes a bunch of copies to increase the probability that some of them will end up in each of the offspring.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 July 2026
Definition of offspring
Adjective
  • The pipe burst released about 130 million gallons of water, trapped several workers, killed hundreds of juvenile Chinook salmon and damaged the New Colgate Powerhouse.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026
  • One of the e-bike riders, a juvenile boy, was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and died shortly thereafter, the release said.
    — Rose Evans, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
Definition of juvenile
Noun
  • The maintenance cycle appears to be driven mainly by univoltine Aedes species, mosquitoes that produce a single brood per year.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Soon a wicked stepmother named Elvera and her brood came into the Jones family’s life.
    — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 July 2026
Definition of brood
Adjective
  • In practice, portions of the automation framework still feel slightly immature.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 29 June 2026
  • These are the immature stages of small brown moths.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2026
Definition of immature
Noun
  • Another issue is that once the eggs hatch, the birds might not be able to raise as many young.
    — Morgan Tingley, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Only during a brief two-month window in late spring and early summer, when those eggs hatch and the emerging mosquitoes begin feeding on deer, does the virus replicate.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of hatch
Adjective
  • Additionally, occasional rule-breaking and defiance are considered a normal part of child and adolescent development.
    — Elizabeth Dowdell, The Conversation, 6 July 2026
  • Ultimately, this visible lump is a permanent record of a hormonal change, primarily designed to be heard, reflecting the body's adolescent effort to project a larger presence.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of adolescent
Noun
  • Only in these United States can the progeny of people once portrayed as parasites and invaders side with those making the same argument about the latest batch of newcomers.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • That that fondness would define the very identity of her progeny?
    — Barry Levitt, Time, 19 June 2026
Definition of progeny

Phrases Containing young

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yores
young
youngish
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Cite this Entry

“Young.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/young. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on young

Nglish: Translation of young for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about young

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