growing pains
plural noun
1
: pains in the legs of growing children having no demonstrable relation to growth
2
: the stresses and strains attending a new project or development
Examples of growing pains in a Sentence
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Outside of that, the former Miami Hurricanes standout has had obvious rookie growing pains, completing just 55 percent of his passes on the year, the worst completion percentage of any quarterback to start a game this season.
—
MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
McMillan’s early gaffe highlighted his growing pains as a rookie wide receiver.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Of course, this comes with growing pains.
—Jj Rosen, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
The best-case version of the Jets depends on growing pains, too.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for growing pains
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MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
McMillan’s early gaffe highlighted his growing pains as a rookie wide receiver.
—Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
Of course, this comes with growing pains.
—Jj Rosen, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Oct. 2025
The best-case version of the Jets depends on growing pains, too.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for growing pains
Cite this Entry
“Growing pains.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/growing%20pains. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
growing pains
noun plural
grow·ing pains
ˈgrō-iŋ-ˌpānz 
: pains occurring in the legs of growing children having no demonstrable relation to growth
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