as in inexperienced
lacking in adult experience or maturity
a story about a callow youth who learns the value of hard work and self-reliance
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of callow
For me, DiCaprio, now pushing 50, nevertheless almost always seems too callow, too green, for the roles he’s called upon to play, especially in his many Scorsese films.
—
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023
These comments expressed the callow moral vanity at the core of EA.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 Nov. 2022
Even with a callow receiving corps that has earned his wrath at times, A-Rod is a problem.
—Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Sep. 2022
But mostly, this dark-cornered, sinister place, which is being minded by callow young caretaker Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), feels eerily still and expectant, like a spiderweb waiting for the return of its spider.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 29 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for callow
Peter Rainer, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2023
These comments expressed the callow moral vanity at the core of EA.
—Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 16 Nov. 2022
Even with a callow receiving corps that has earned his wrath at times, A-Rod is a problem.
—Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Sep. 2022
But mostly, this dark-cornered, sinister place, which is being minded by callow young caretaker Rakib (Kevin Ardilova), feels eerily still and expectant, like a spiderweb waiting for the return of its spider.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 29 Sep. 2022
See All Example Sentences for callow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for callow
Adjective
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There are three immature stages that are black and white, with the fourth stage being red, black and white before becoming adults later in the summer.—
Kaycee Sloan,
The Enquirer,
14 July 2025
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To be effective the spray has to cover the immature stages.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Whatever the answer, the most enjoyable parts of Friday’s concert offered more than just a chance for attendees to revisit their adolescent years in song by channeling anew feelings of young love, longing and fresh-faced angst.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 July 2025
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And a study published in The Lancet that examined the prevalence of adolescent depression among English youth suggested that increased sedentary behavior in adolescence could affect a person’s mental health into adulthood.—
Henry Abbott,
The Atlantic,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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With school out for most young people, TV usage among kids 6 to 17 increased 27% compared with May, with streaming accounting for two-thirds of the group’s TV time.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
15 July 2025
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Weeks after getting out, his nemesis, Wright, shot and killed Bell’s younger brother, Lamar.—
The Marshall Project,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Callow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/callow. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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