pubescent

adjective

pu·​bes·​cent pyü-ˈbe-sᵊnt 

1

a

: arriving at or having reached puberty

b

: of or relating to puberty

2

: covered with fine soft short hairs compare villous

Examples of pubescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My father, a psychologist, listened carefully and then gently suggested that the dream might reflect anxiety about my changing pubescent body. —Gillian Silverman, The New Yorker, 15 July 2023

The thinking, as explained by the former IBLP adherent who mentions the rule, was that exposure to female genitalia, even those belonging to an infant, would be too much temptation for a pubescent male. —Monica Hesse, Washington Post, 2 June 2023

Using the genre trappings of the superhero origin story, Amazon’s new drama The Power explores society’s preoccupation with and fear of pubescent girls. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Mar. 2023

But behind those scenes of pubescent angst and hilarity is a cutting narrative about a girl caught between her mother’s Christianity and her father’s Judaism, who tries desperately to relate to God outside all of that. —Selome Hailu, Variety, 30 Mar. 2023

Timothée as a pre-pubescent Darth Vader? —Raven Smith, Vogue, 26 May 2021

And yet all that feels like cold comfort during the two-plus hours of bland action, circuitous twists, creaky unfunniness, and insistent product placement that makes up the second outing for our pubescent Superman. —Charles Bramesco, Chron, 15 Mar. 2023

Harvested in the pubescent stage of the plant’s life, the leaves contain highly stimulating enzymatic properties that interact with dopamine and norepinephrine receptors in the brain to produce stimulant effects. —Dallas News, 10 Nov. 2022

Reynolds assaulted the pre-pubescent victim 15 to 50 times over several years. —Garfield Hylton, Orlando Sentinel, 16 June 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Latin pubescent-, pubescens, present participle of pubescere to reach puberty, become covered as with hair, from pubes

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

pubescent

adjective

pu·​bes·​cent -ᵊnt 

1

: arriving at or having reached puberty

2

: of or relating to puberty