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Definitions

nascent

[ney-suhnt, nas-uhnt] / ˈneɪ sənt, ˈnæs ənt /
ADJECTIVE
budding
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burgeoning fledgling growing incipient promising
STRONG
beginning blossoming germinal germinating maturing opening potential pullulating sprouting vegetating young
WEAK
bursting forth embryonic fresh pubescent shooting up
Antonyms
WEAK
dying shrinking withering
ADJECTIVE
inceptive
Synonyms
WEAK
antecedent basic commencing earliest early elementary embryonic first foremost fundamental germinal headmost inaugural inchoate incipient infant initial initiative initiatory introductory leading leadoff opening original pioneer virgin
ADJECTIVE
inchoate
Synonyms
WEAK
amorphous elementary embryonic formless immature imperfect inceptive incipient just begun preliminary rudimentary shapeless unfinished unformed unshaped
Antonyms
WEAK
developed grown mature
ADJECTIVE
incipient
Synonyms
STRONGEST
embryonic
WEAK
basic beginning commencing elementary fundamental inceptive inchoate initial initiative initiatory introductory originating start
Antonyms
WEAK
developed grown mature
ADJECTIVE
infant/infantile
Synonyms
WEAK
baby babyish callow childish childlike developing early emergent green growing immature infantine initial juvenile kid naive newborn puerile tender unfledged unripe weak youthful
Antonyms
WEAK
adult grown-up mature
ADJECTIVE
initial
Synonyms
STRONGEST
basic introductory original
STRONG
antecedent commencing first fundamental germinal inaugural infant initiative leading opening pioneer virgin
WEAK
earliest early elementary embryonic foremost headmost inceptive inchoate incipient initiatory
Antonyms
STRONG
following last subordinate
WEAK
closing final
ADJECTIVE
initiatory
Synonyms
WEAK
antecedent basic commencing earliest early elementary embryonic first foremost fundamental germinal headmost inaugural inceptive inchoate incipient infant initial initiative introductory leading leadoff opening original pioneer virgin
ADJECTIVE
underdeveloped
Synonyms
STRONGEST
embryonic undeveloped
WEAK
immature inchoate rudimentary
Antonyms
WEAK
developed

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.

When Billy Beane turned to the nascent discipline of data analytics to overcome a seemingly unsolvable workplace problem, his aspirations were modest.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

For now, quantum investors are loving what the company has to say about the nascent industry’s potential.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

In addition to fostering greater self-reliance, China is looking to beat out other nations in the race to develop and commercialize the nascent technology.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The half-dozen new bills are meant to help the nascent industry clear those hurdles.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

What made their partnership extraordinary was that during this nascent period of nuclear physics, theorists and experimentalists customarily regarded each other with mutual condescension and suspicion.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary lists containing nascent

This Week in Words: September 1 - 7, 2018

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"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan

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