preadolescence

noun

Definition of preadolescencenext
as in adolescence

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preadolescence Instead, the rats concerned acted normally until given their preadolescence doses of THC. — The Economist, 19 Oct. 2019 Yet there’s no better example of the genius of Big Mouth—a comedy that nails the sophomoric physical humor of preadolescence but whose hilarious portrait of puberty is really a mirror held up to adult sexuality—more than what follows. — Judy Berman, Time, 4 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preadolescence
  1. adolescence
  2. boyhood
  3. girlhood
Noun
  • The preschoolers who had a tough time delaying gratification— who ate the first marshmallow—were less academically and socially skilled, eloquent, attentive, and not as good at managing frustration in adolescence.
    — Joan M. Cook, Time, 3 Oct. 2026
  • But bringing their three teenagers—Joey (17), Sundance (16), and Scout(13)— to the island at this precise window of adolescence felt different from the start.
    — Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of adolescence
Noun
  • Hastert’s journey to Congress from his boyhood farm appeared to be the result of fate and luck.
    — Michael Tarm, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Coutinho had been without a club since leaving boyhood club Vasco da Gama.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of boyhood
Noun
  • The latest DreamWorks animation feature is an unmissable celebration of Filipino culture and the power of friendships in girlhood.
    — Parents, Parents, 25 Sep. 2026
  • This fall, New York museums are mounting an intriguing mix of shows that speak to notions of girlhood, nostalgia, and feminine self-expression across time, cultures, and creative disciplines.
    — Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of girlhood

Browse Nearby Words

preachy
preadolescence
preadolescences
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Cite this Entry

“Preadolescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preadolescence. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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