babyish

adjective

ba·​by·​ish ˈbā-bē-ish How to pronounce babyish (audio)
Synonyms of babyishnext
: resembling a baby : childish, infantile
a rounded face that gave her a peculiarly babyish appearance
babyish tears and petulance
babyishly adverb
babyishness noun
Like Atom, Mr. Yanobe's sculptures are friendly, unthreatening beings. There's a babyishness to their tubby profiles. Sarah Bayliss, New York Times, 6 Dec. 1998

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of babyish was in 1646

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Babyish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/babyish. Accessed 13 Dec. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on babyish

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!