puerile
Noun
Hard difficulty
What does “puerile” mean?
noun.childishly silly and trivial.
SAT Usage
this term often appears in passages discussing maturity, wisdom, or the contrast between adulthood and childhood behaviors. It emphasizes a lack of seriousness or depth, suggesting that actions or ideas are not just childish but also lacking in sophistication, unlike terms like "immature," which may not convey the same triviality.
Common Confusions
Puerile implies a lack of seriousness and depth in childish behavior, while immature usually suggests a general lack of emotional development without necessarily conveying triviality.
Do not choose puerile if the context emphasizes seriousness or maturity rather than being childishly silly and trivial.
Example Sentences
-
The argument quickly descended into puerile name-calling.