subadolescent
adjective
sub·ad·o·les·cent
ˌsəb-ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊnt 
variants
or sub-adolescent
1
: nearly adolescent : almost in the period of adolescence
subadolescent boys
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a subadolescent child
subadolescent humor
subadolescent
noun
or sub-adolescent
plural subadolescents or sub-adolescents
The book's hero isn't really Peter Pan—neither James Barrie's heedless, heartless sprite with all his baby teeth nor the smirking subadolescent in tights featured in the Disney animated movie.
—
Janet McConnaughey
Janet McConnaughey
Cite this Entry
“Subadolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subadolescent. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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