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
Developmental research has long shown that the prefrontal cortex, responsible for planning, judgment, and impulse control, remains under construction well into early adulthood.
—
Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The observational research revealed that consistent heavy drinking over adulthood was linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer, especially rectal cancer.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Hyacinth has always been a handful, and growing into adulthood hasn’t dimmed the youngest Bridgerton’s high spirits or outspoken nature.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
Beyond providing shelter, parents are funding their kids well into adulthood, Ameriprise also found.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
One half of the duo was more tethered than ever to the practical realities of adulthood; the other was free to imagine moving beyond them.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Jan. 2026
Cognitive resilience is not fixed at birth or locked in early adulthood.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Dumas followed a straightforward path well into adulthood, moving through university, military service, and corporate roles before discovering entrepreneurship at 31.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Those problems followed him into adulthood.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Dr. Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The observational research revealed that consistent heavy drinking over adulthood was linked to a higher risk of colorectal cancer, especially rectal cancer.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Hyacinth has always been a handful, and growing into adulthood hasn’t dimmed the youngest Bridgerton’s high spirits or outspoken nature.
—Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026
Beyond providing shelter, parents are funding their kids well into adulthood, Ameriprise also found.
—Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
One half of the duo was more tethered than ever to the practical realities of adulthood; the other was free to imagine moving beyond them.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Jan. 2026
Cognitive resilience is not fixed at birth or locked in early adulthood.
—Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, The Conversation, 23 Jan. 2026
Dumas followed a straightforward path well into adulthood, moving through university, military service, and corporate roles before discovering entrepreneurship at 31.
—Matt Emma, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
Those problems followed him into adulthood.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulthood
maturity
Noun
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The rise in debt supply is driven by large debt maturities and heavy state government issuance, which may push up yields and compounding pressures on the economy.—
Subhadip Sircar,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
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Scott Galloway makes a similar point in Notes on Being a Man, arguing that today’s boys are growing up in a world that hasn’t adapted to this slower arc of maturity.—
Dr. Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Adulthood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulthood. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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