Definition of puerile in English:

adjective

• Childishly silly and immature.

  ‘a puerile argument’

  More example sentences

  • ‘They must have thought I was crass, puerile and selfish.’
  • ‘It's a puerile ideal - in real life we're all far too independent and self-centered to want to dissolve ourselves in another person.’
  • ‘Essentially, this takes the form of an oppositional dualism that frequently manifests itself in demonstrably puerile ways.’
  • ‘And rather than enjoying my puerile comments, Scarlett was stung.’
  • ‘This version is puerile, including jokes that could hardly have raised a snigger when first heard and turns of speech abandoned for over a generation.’
  • ‘It all seems so puerile and, dare I say it, insensitive.’
  • ‘Opposition may sometimes seem like a game, and there is nothing more puerile than politicians yah-booing each other purely for the sake of it.’
  • ‘Such a success story, so unapologetically, cheerfully puerile.’
  • ‘This whole project sounds like the most puerile, childish and willfully obnoxious cinematic venture in years.’
  • ‘There was a certain puerile joy in her, a childish excitement shone in her eyes.’
  • ‘It has just the right tone to reach them - puerile but non-threatening, lowbrow but chaste.’
  • ‘Still think its hilarious though, but I'm a generally juvenile (and puerile!) person.’
  • ‘Two best man speeches at the reception as well, that's twice the opportunity for inane and puerile humour.’
  • ‘The characters' grotesque infantilism and puerile sense of humour is an important part of what is being satirised.’
  • ‘When we see our politicians acting in such a puerile and childish manner is it any wonder the country is awash with apathy and cynicism?’
  • ‘Seriously, my friends, this a deep and meaningful lesson, not just a puerile, unfunny swipe at poor people.’
  • ‘No puerile, childish criticisms will diminish their importance, nor minimise their influence on our national psyche.’
  • ‘Swift uses this story to satirize the petty divisions and puerile squabbling of Christian sects.’
  • ‘Because the reasoning would be too puerile and the attempted association too reminiscent of the methods of Stalinism.’
  • ‘For some the right to a fair trial is trumped by rubber-necking, political opportunism and puerile attention seeking.’

  Synonyms

  immature, babyish, infantile, juvenile

  childish, immature, infantile, juvenile, adolescent, babyish

  View synonyms