teenager
Neither child nor adult
A teenager is a person between thirteen and nineteen years old—the ages whose names end in -teen.
The term captures the developmental stage between childhood and adulthood, marked by physical maturation, identity formation, and increasing independence.
Teenage years carry cultural associations with rebellion, mood swings, and social anxiety: She's been moody ever since she became a teenager.
Sexual development stage
- identityWho someone is
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- coming-of-ageYouth becoming adulthood
- awkwardnessLack of grace or ease
insecurity · transition · hormones · maturation · acne · self-esteem · curfew · zits
Student assignments for outside class
- examsFormal academic tests
- gradesAcademic performance ratings
- classroomEducational instruction space
- backpackStrapped bag worn dorsally
assignments · prom · locker · detention · cafeteria · study · extracurriculars · SAT
Open resistance to authority
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
- punkRaw, fast rock genre
graffiti · backtalk · rule-breaking · attitude · piercing · tattoo · independence · arguing
Changeable emotional state
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- alienationState of being isolated
- turmoilViolent disturbance or confusion
misunderstood · drama · frustration · restlessness · ennui · melancholy · isolation · sensitivity
Sexual development stage
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- acneInflamed skin condition
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
- estrogenFemale reproductive hormone
puberty
Sexual development stage
- identityWho someone is
- self-discoveryLearning one's true character
- coming-of-ageYouth becoming adulthood
awkwardness · insecurity · transition · hormones · maturation · acne · self-esteem · curfew · zits · braces
homework
Student assignments for outside class
backpack · assignments · prom · locker · detention · cafeteria · study · extracurriculars · SAT · homeroom
defiance
Open resistance to authority
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
- disobedienceRefusal to follow orders
- countercultureRejection of mainstream values
punk · graffiti · backtalk · rule-breaking · attitude · piercing · tattoo · independence · arguing
moodiness
Changeable emotional state
- broodingAnxiously dwelling on something
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- alienationState of being isolated
turmoil · misunderstood · drama · frustration · restlessness · ennui · melancholy · isolation · sensitivity · confusion
puberty
Sexual development stage
- hormonesBloodstream signaling molecules
- acneInflamed skin condition
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
friends
Voluntary close relations
- cliquesExclusive social groups
- datingPursuing romantic connections
- textingSending typed mobile messages
popularity · crushes · parties · gossip · drama · influencer · TikTok · Instagram · Snapchat · groupchat
K-pop
Korean popular music genre
- quinceañeraFifteenth birthday celebration
- debutanteFormally introduced young woman
- gamingInteractive electronic entertainment
- childhoodchildhood, baby, child, kid, toys
- childrenkids, toddler, baby, infant, youngster
- familymother, father, parents, siblings, parent
- humanperson, individual, man, woman, adult
- youthchild, kid, coming-of-age, girlhood, youth
- adolescencepuberty, coming-of-age, growing up, pubescent, identity formation
teenageradult
Mature person, legally responsible
elder · senior citizen · grown-up · infant · man
teenagersage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
seasoned veteran · wise elder · old soul · mature adult · grown-up
- teenage yearsAges thirteen to nineteen
- teenage girlYoung female adolescent
- teenage rebellionAdolescent resistance to authority
- teenage angstYouth's emotional turbulence
- teenage pregnancyYouth bearing offspring
- rebellious teenagerAuthority-resisting young person
teenage, teenaged, teenagers, preteenage, teenagerdom, teenagerhood, preteenager