Definitions

in the bud

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early adj.
immature adj.
undeveloped adj.

ADJECTIVE

early

Synonyms

STRONGEST

beforehand briefly directly immediately prematurely previous promptly quick shortly soon too soon unexpectedly

STRONG

betimes

WEAK

a bit previous ahead of time anon bright and early early bird ere long far ahead in advance in good time in time on short notice on the dot oversoon pronto proximately

Antonyms

WEAK

late later

ADJECTIVE

immature

Synonyms

STRONGEST

childish premature

STRONG

green unfledged unripe

WEAK

adolescent baby babyish callow crude half-grown imperfect infantile infantine jejune juvenile kid kidstuff puerile raw sophomoric tender tenderfoot underdeveloped undergrown undeveloped unfinished unformed unseasonable unseasoned unsophisticated untimely wet behind ears youthful

Antonyms

STRONGEST

mature

WEAK

adult developed experienced grown old

ADJECTIVE

undeveloped

Synonyms

STRONGEST

backward primitive underdeveloped

WEAK

abortive behindhand embryonic half-baked ignored inchoate incipient inexperienced latent potential primordial unactualized unevolved unprogressive untaught untrained

Antonyms

WEAK

adult developed grown mature

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

in the bud

So the money bouquet culture is unlikely to be nipped in the bud any time soon.

From BBC ● Feb. 13, 2026

Had a military coup been nipped in the bud?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 26, 2026

Hilton Worldwide Holdings appeared earlier this month to have nipped a similar public-relations crisis in the bud.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 23, 2026

This is why a lot of Jews want to nip that rhetoric in the bud.

From Slate ● Dec. 19, 2025

Nip it in the bud, not butt, Ms. Hardwick, she answers, then adds, Sorta like when you prune a flower in the budding stage, to keep it from growing.

From "Booked" by Kwame Alexander

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