as in maturity
the state of being fully grown or developed
the period between childhood and adulthood is called adolescence
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Recent Examples of adulthood
Embracing adulthood after having her childhood and adolescence stolen likely demanded even more courage and resilience.
—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Punk Essays, is a coming-of-age collection of pop-culture criticism and personal narratives traversing the author’s formative years in South Gate, CA, through present day adulthood, navigating the center of being black, Latino, and a punk.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
In a large 2017 study published in Scientific Reports, spanning over 26,000 individuals from birth to early adulthood, roughly 70% of 0–1 year olds were identified as morning types, with barely 1% showing an evening preference.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Mello began acting as a child on Brazilian novelas, moving onto cinema in his early adulthood.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 16 May 2026
But today one of the most common experiences of adulthood—especially in ambitious cities, among high-achieving people—is a strange kind of loneliness.
—Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Their relationship had stabilized in adulthood, but only by avoiding the past.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Understated, sharp-eyed, and drier than a drought, Vin (Ealy) spent his early adulthood as a Pullman Porter — smiling on cue while passengers snapped their fingers for whiskey.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2026
The series follows a group of friends in their 20s who are navigating adulthood, including some regulars whom Real Housewives fans will recognize.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Punk Essays, is a coming-of-age collection of pop-culture criticism and personal narratives traversing the author’s formative years in South Gate, CA, through present day adulthood, navigating the center of being black, Latino, and a punk.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
In a large 2017 study published in Scientific Reports, spanning over 26,000 individuals from birth to early adulthood, roughly 70% of 0–1 year olds were identified as morning types, with barely 1% showing an evening preference.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Mello began acting as a child on Brazilian novelas, moving onto cinema in his early adulthood.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 16 May 2026
But today one of the most common experiences of adulthood—especially in ambitious cities, among high-achieving people—is a strange kind of loneliness.
—Jonathan Haidt, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Their relationship had stabilized in adulthood, but only by avoiding the past.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 13 May 2026
Understated, sharp-eyed, and drier than a drought, Vin (Ealy) spent his early adulthood as a Pullman Porter — smiling on cue while passengers snapped their fingers for whiskey.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 12 May 2026
The series follows a group of friends in their 20s who are navigating adulthood, including some regulars whom Real Housewives fans will recognize.
—Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulthood
maturity
Noun
-
This can get very funny, depending on your maturity level and sense of humor.—
Will Greenwald,
PC Magazine,
19 May 2026
-
Roughly 38% to 46% of contracts fall into low-maturity structures, lacking pricing transparency, benchmarking mechanisms or meaningful flexibility clauses.—
David Pennino,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adulthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulthood. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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