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Mature

adj. thoughtful, calm everyday

What it means

Meaning 1

Showing the judgment and self-command expected from someone who has developed beyond impulsive reactions.

Reach for it when praising a person's responsible response, outlook, or decision

Owen gave a mature apology that named the harm and offered a repair.

Meaning 2

Reached after patient consideration rather than a quick first reaction.

Reach for it when describing a conclusion or plan shaped by careful reflection

The committee returned with a mature proposal that addressed the strongest objections.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
playful
everyday
warm
professional
formal
literary

Meaning 1: Showing the judgment and self-command expected from someone who has developed beyond impulsive reactions.

  • playful

    grown-up

    Suits informal praise of sensible adult behavior

    Careful The phrase can sound patronizing, especially when addressed to an adult colleague.

  • everyday

    level-headed

    Suits calm thinking when pressure could provoke a rash response

    Careful It fits a moment of composure more than a person's broader growth.

  • warm

    wise

    Fits when judgment reflects deep understanding of people or life

    Careful Wise overstates what one restrained reaction can demonstrate about maturity.

  • professional

    responsible

    Fits when reliability and ownership of consequences are the key qualities

    Careful Responsibility can be dutiful without showing emotional development or sound judgment.

  • literary

    seasoned

    Fits when experience has produced steady practical judgment

    Careful It links quality to experience, so it is wrong for a young person showing unusual maturity.

Meaning 2: Reached after patient consideration rather than a quick first reaction.

  • professional

    considered

    Suits a view formed after weighing relevant factors

    Careful It describes the process, not whether the final judgment is ethically or emotionally developed.

  • professional

    well-reasoned

    Fits when evidence and logic visibly support the conclusion

    Careful A well-reasoned answer may still be emotionally insensitive or irresponsible.

  • formal

    deliberate

    Fits when slowness and intention are preferable to haste

    Careful Deliberate can suggest calculated behavior and does not itself mean the choice was good.

Opposites 3

  • immature
  • impulsive
  • hasty

Common phrases 3

  • mature response

    Her mature response kept the mistake from becoming a feud.

  • mature outlook

    A mature outlook helped Ben separate criticism from rejection.

  • mature judgment

    The panel trusted his mature judgment on the difficult boundary question.

Word family 2

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: AnotherFriendlyHuman, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated