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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Florida has dramatically expanded school-voucher programs in recent years, but lawmakers are grappling with growing pains in the programs.
—
Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Working through the growing pains with a young quarterback is a different calculation in the era of the transfer portal.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
There are still growing pains, including in the regulatory and implementation realm.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 4 Jan. 2026
McCoy also feels similar growing pains.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2025
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Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026
Working through the growing pains with a young quarterback is a different calculation in the era of the transfer portal.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
There are still growing pains, including in the regulatory and implementation realm.
—Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 4 Jan. 2026
McCoy also feels similar growing pains.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 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 10 Jan. 2026.
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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