awkward age

noun

1. early adolescence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of awkward age¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

An often tense release-valve scenario flecked with moments of dream imagery and lyrical naturalism, “Beautiful Beings” certainly positions Guðmundsson as one of the more thoughtful chroniclers of the awkward age, even if he never quite knows how to corral his many moods into something wholly resonant about the nihilistic trap of delinquency.

From Los Angeles Times

"You’re no longer the cute little kid. You go through an awkward age and don’t get hired, so you quit… I wasn’t neglected by my family… I also started college and kept acting… Then I decided to stop and try other things, like directing, to keep things interesting. But my life was sort of consistently the same. So I didn’t have trouble with that transition. And I'm still keeping busy today."

From Fox News

Suzanne of the French drama “Spring Blossom” is at that awkward age: not a girl, not yet a woman.

From Los Angeles Times

“I am 61 and at that awkward age for men between 16 and 70,” answers an anonymous user, who has Phil beat with a whopping 18,066 total posts.

From The Verge

It was an awkward age in a girl, he thought contentedly.

From Literature

Related Words

• minority
• teens