Puerile
/ˈpjʊrɪl/
adjectiveC2
Definition
Puerile describes actions, thoughts, or behavior that are immature or childish. It is often used to criticize adults who act like children, especially when their behavior seems silly or not serious in situations that need maturity.
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See It in Action
Childish or immature behavior, especially from an adult
- •His puerile jokes made everyone uncomfortable at the meeting.
- •The argument was puerile and did not help solve the problem.
- •She was annoyed by his puerile refusal to listen.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of 'puerile' like 'childish,' but used in a more formal or serious way to show disapproval
- ✓Picture an adult throwing a small tantrum like a little kid who did not get a toy
- ✓It's the feeling when someone laughs at a joke that is too simple or silly for their age
- ✓Sounds like 'PURE-ill' → imagine a pure, simple child who is ill-prepared for adult problems, acting too young
- ✓Think of stories where grown-ups act silly, like in a comedy where adults behave like children for laughs
- ✓NOT like 'young' (which just means age), 'puerile' means acting younger than your real age in a negative way
- ✓NOT like 'funny' or 'playful' (which can be positive), 'puerile' usually means the behavior is annoying or inappropriate
- ✓NOT like 'immature' (similar meaning), but 'puerile' is often stronger and more formal, used to criticize
Try Other Words
- •Childish: acting like a child (Use in everyday conversation to describe silly or immature behavior)
- •Immature: not fully grown or developed emotionally (Use when focusing on lack of emotional growth)
- •Juvenile: young or young-like behavior (Use in formal or legal contexts about young people or immature actions)
- •Silly: lacking seriousness or good sense (Use when the behavior is not harmful but just foolish)
Unboxing
- •Prefix/root/suffix: From Latin "puer" meaning "boy" + suffix "-ile" meaning "related to"
- •Etymology: Comes from Latin where "puerile" meant "boyish" or "childish"
- •Historical development: Used in English since the 1500s to describe childish behavior, often with a negative meaning
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in formal speech or writing to criticize immature behavior, especially in adults
Reflect & Connect
•Can puerile behavior ever be positive or helpful in some situations? Why or why not?
•How do you decide when someone is acting puerile versus just playful or joking?
Fill in the blanks
1.His ___ behavior made it hard for others to take him seriously in the meeting.
2.When adults act ___, it can create problems in serious conversations or work.
3.Unlike being young, ___ means acting too young in a way that is not good for the situation.
4.She ignored his ___ comments because they did not help solve the problem.
5.People often use ___ to describe jokes or actions that seem silly and childish.
6.The teacher told him that his ___ attitude was not acceptable in class.
7.You can tell someone is acting ___ when they refuse to listen or act like a child in an adult situation.