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I am looking for a word that describe, with some specificity, the tendency for a person to be easily excited and interested by something due to the lack of age or experience.

Sentence:

Weapons are one of the favourite subjects of ____ boys.

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    In this sentence I think the word is all.
    – Jim
    Commented Jun 29, 2016 at 1:08
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    Perhaps "impressionable" or "wide-eyed" might convey some of what you're looking for.
    – Rose Kunkel
    Commented Jun 29, 2016 at 1:23
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    I think 'impetuous' carries connotations of callowness, as does 'eager' (especially when paired with nouns like 'youths'). In your particular example, 'boys' itself let's the reader know your keen individuals are young, so I don't think the adjective needs to do all the lifting to get your meaning across.
    – 1006a
    Commented Jun 30, 2016 at 5:37

3 Answers 3

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rambunctious

dictionary.com

  1. difficult to control or handle; wildly boisterous: a rambunctious child.

wiktionary

Energetic, noisy, boisterous and difficult to control. The kids are being especially rambunctious today.

exuberant

dictionary.com

  1. effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic;

its noun form exuberance is usually used as in childhood exuberance

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Weapons are one of the favourite subjects of juvenile boys.

M-W:

juvenile adjective

1 a : physiologically immature or undeveloped : young

2 : of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people

3 : reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity : childish

Also, youthful:

Weapons are one of the favourite subjects of youthful boys.

From M-W:

youthful adjective

Full Definition of youthful:

1 : of, relating to, or characteristic of youth

2 : being young and not yet mature

3 : marked by or possessing youth

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An option with slightly more emphasis on the lack of experience than on the excitability: Unseasoned

unseasoned
/ʌnˈsiːzənd/ adjective
1. (of persons) not sufficiently experienced: unseasoned troops
2. not matured or seasoned: unseasoned timber


Examples:
regiments were mostly composed of draughts from various other corps, consisting principally of old men, and unseasoned boys


only amateurs could play slam tournaments, like little, unseasoned boys

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  • Not sure this really works in the example sentence.
    – ThunderGuppy
    Commented Oct 19, 2016 at 17:07
  • You might be right, can you expand in why not? The word is most often used in a martial or sporting context, but can be used outside of those. The example sentence only gives limited context but does refer to 'weapons', so martial may well be in scope. None of the answers given address all of the elements requested, most focusing on the aspect youth or excitability.
    – Spagirl
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 10:17
  • I think because "unseasoned" primarily refers to the lack of experience, but does nothing to suggest excitement or interest. The question suggests that enthusiasm is very important, and "unseasoned" is too neutral.
    – ThunderGuppy
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 13:42
  • You don't think the same limitation applies to all of the answers in that none of them suggest all the elements posed in the question?
    – Spagirl
    Commented Oct 20, 2016 at 13:57

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