youngling

noun

young·​ling ˈyəŋ-liŋ How to pronounce youngling (audio)
: one that is young
especially : a young person or animal
youngling adjective

Examples of youngling in a Sentence

she quit babysitting when she got tired of wrangling younglings who weren't even her own
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Many male animals—including lions and gorillas—slay such younglings to ensure all future offspring are theirs. Byvirginia Morell, science.org, 6 May 2024 In true Star Wars fashion, kids are called younglings or padawans (both gender-neutral terms). Deanne Revel, Parents, 22 May 2024 Our delightful server, Lulu, introduced each course and helped us out when our youngling was being especially difficult about trying both the safer and more adventurous options on the menu. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 In the second season, the Mandalorian reluctantly worked to reunite Grogu with his own kind—or at least with a Jedi so the youngling could grow stronger in the Force. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2023 Reva is a kind of double agent — her motive is to become Darth Vader’s trusted right hand in order to kill him and avenge the deaths of the Jedi younglings murdered by Anakin Skywalker (the eventual Darth Vader) under Order 66. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 11 Aug. 2023 Bonus: Star Wars Young Jedi Adventures for the younglings (the very younglings). Erik Kain, Forbes, 7 May 2023 While this confirmed the speculation that Reva was a youngling who later became an Inquisitor, her chilling memory of what Anakin did during Order 66 puts a whole new spin on her character. Lauren Morgan, EW.com, 15 June 2022 But Reva ends the episode clearly intending to kill Anakin's child (and Obi-Wan's de facto charge) just as Anakin killed so many important children in her own earlier life as a youngling (more on that in a bit). Evan Romano, Men's Health, 15 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of youngling was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near youngling

Cite this Entry

“Youngling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/youngling. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

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