infantile

[ in-fuhn-tahyl, -til ]

/ ˈɪn fənˌtaɪl, -tɪl /

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adjective

characteristic of or befitting an infant; babyish; childish: infantile behavior.

of or relating to infants or infancy: infantile diseases.

Physical Geography. youthful (def. 5).

OTHER WORDS FOR infantile

1 puerile, immature, weak.

See synonyms for infantile on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR infantile

1 adult, mature.

See antonyms for infantile on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Which of the following words means “to make a crackling sound; crackle”?

crisp

crepitate

fuscous

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Origin of infantile

From the Latin word infantīlis, dating back to 1690–1700. See infant, -ile

synonym study for infantile

1. See childish.

OTHER WORDS FROM infantile

in·fan·til·i·ty

[in-fuhn-til-i-tee], /ˌɪn fənˈtɪl ɪ ti/, noun

Words nearby infantile

infancy, infant, infanta, infante, infanticide, infantile, infantile acropustulosis, infantile autism, infantile cortical hyperostosis, infantile digital fibromatosis, infantile eczema

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use infantile in a sentence

The idea that we can enjoy the benefits of society while owing nothing in return is literally infantile.
Sebastian Junger: What We Talk About When We Talk About Freedom|Nathan S. Webster|May 31, 2021|The Daily Beast
The United States got an F — and soon 550,000 dead — because the ignorant or infantile among us, wanting what they wanted when they wanted it, defeated the nation’s adults.
Everyone has feelings about crowd size at ballgames. Let’s stick with facts.|Thomas M. Boswell|March 18, 2021|Washington Post
The seeds of future nightmares may be planted early in life, during what’s known as the “infantile amnesia” period, which lasts from birth to about age three and a half, and is a time of life during which virtually no enduring memories are formed.
Scientists Are Learning to Read—and Change—Your Nightmares|Jeffrey Kluger|August 6, 2020|Time
At one point, Valle offered an apology to anybody who had been “hurt, shocked or offended by my infantile actions.”
Why NYPD Couldn’t Cook The ‘Cannibal Cop’|Michael Daly|July 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

It was sweet and funny and self-deprecating, nothing like the infantile behavior she had just displayed.
Supermodel Iman Walked Out on Me|Kevin Sessums|November 10, 2010|DAILY BEAST
It's how we project our own catastrophe of infantile adulthood.
2009: The Most Impulsive Year Ever|Lee Siegel|December 18, 2009|DAILY BEAST
He led her by the hand, and confided to her infantile spirit all his thoughts, his illusions, his day-dreams.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott
The Scherzo is neither good nor bad; the trio is so innocent that it would be almost too infantile for a Sniegourotchka.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky
He listened and heard soft breathing that stopped just short of being an infantile snore.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
She was apparently about six years of age, and the picture of infantile innocence and loveliness.
Adrift on the Pacific|Edward S. Ellis
In respect of one symptom or several, many individuals may remain throughout life in an infantile condition.
The Sexual Life of the Child|Albert Moll

British Dictionary definitions for infantile

infantile

/ (ˈɪnfənˌtaɪl) /

adjective

like a child in action or behaviour; childishly immature; puerile

of, relating to, or characteristic of infants or infancy

in an early stage of development

Derived forms of infantile

infantility (ˌɪnfənˈtɪlɪtɪ), noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for infantile

infantile

[ ĭn′fən-tīl′, -tĭl ]

adj.

Of or relating to infants or infancy.

Displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity; extremely childish.

infantile

OTHER WORDS FOR infantile

OPPOSITES FOR infantile

Origin of infantile

synonym study for infantile

OTHER WORDS FROM infantile

Words nearby infantile

Words related to infantile

How to use infantile in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for infantile

Derived forms of infantile

Medical definitions for infantile