Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

adulthood

[uh-duhlt-hood] / əˈdʌlt hʊd /
NOUN
age
Synonyms
STRONGEST
life maturity old age youth
STRONG
adolescence boyhood childhood dotage girlhood infancy lifetime majority senility seniority
WEAK
elderliness middle age
NOUN
age of consent
Synonyms
WEAK
manhood marriageable age maturity womanhood
NOUN
development
Synonyms
STRONGEST
advancement evolution expansion improvement increase progress
STRONG
addition advance augmentation boost buildup chrysalis developing enlargement flowering hike maturation maturity ontogenesis ontogeny progression reinforcement ripening spread spreading unfolding
WEAK
adding to advancing augmenting elaborating evolvement evolving increasing making progress maturing ongoing perfecting reinforcing unraveling upgrowth upping
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decline decrease halt retreat retrogression stoppage
STRONG
lessening reduction shrinkage stagnation withdrawal
NOUN
manhood
Synonyms
STRONGEST
boldness bravery courage fortitude masculinity mettle nobility potency virility
STRONG
chivalry daring determination firmness forcefulness gallantry hardihood honor machismo manfulness manliness resoluteness resolution self-reliance spirit sturdiness tenacity valor
Antonyms
STRONGEST
cowardice fear timidity weakness
STRONG
irresolution
NOUN
manhood/womanhood
Synonyms
WEAK
coming of age fecundity femininity fertility manfulness manliness masculinity mettle potency virility womanliness womanness
Antonyms
WEAK
childhood
NOUN
unfolding
Synonyms
STRONGEST
flowering
STRONG
addition advance advancement advancing augmentation augmenting boost buildup developing elaborating enlargement evolution evolving expansion growth hike improvement increase increasing maturation maturing maturity perfecting progress progression reinforcement reinforcing ripening spread spreading unraveling upping
WEAK
adding to evolvement making progress ongoing upgrowth
Antonyms
STRONG
decline decrease diminishment failure halt lessening loss reduction retreat retrogression shrinkage stagnation stop stoppage subtraction withdrawal

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"Friends," which followed the lives of six New Yorkers navigating adulthood, dating and careers, drew a massive following and made megastars of previously unknown actors.

From Barron's • Apr. 8, 2026

It is increasingly common for families to financially support their kids well into adulthood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The latest trailer sees the characters leave the classroom behind and follows them in early adulthood.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

By early adulthood, those differences were already visible in how they swam and rested.

From Science Daily • Mar. 26, 2026

And that afternoon she seemed to accept the idea, granted me the right, the freedom so crucial to adulthood, to become a person very different in public from the person I am at home.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez