childish

play

adjective child·ish \ ˈchī(-ə)l-dish \

Definition of childish

1 :of, relating to, or befitting a child or childhood

childish desires for toys

2 a :marked by or suggestive of immaturity and lack of poise

a childish spiteful remark

b :lacking complexity :simple

it's a childish device, but it works

c :deteriorated with age especially in mind :senile

his parents … were both getting childish and needed care
—Pearl Buck

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childishly

adverb

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childishness

noun

See childish defined for English-language learners

See childish defined for kids

Examples of childish in a Sentence

She has a childish face.
a letter written in childish scrawl
He opened the gifts with childish delight.
We're tired of their childish games.
I find his humor very childish.

Recent Examples of childish from the Web

Several things catch the attention: anxiety about the future, exasperation at the childish antics of senior politicians, confusion about Brexit.

— The Economist, "BagehotBritish politics has become dangerously bad-tempered," 19 July 2017
But what if this week — the seeming collapse of the GOP health care strategy, the increasing insanity of Trump’s childish demeanor — changes everything?

— will bunch, Philly.com, "The crazy thing that could finally end America's 'forever war'," 29 June 2017
There is the childish curiosity of Amy and Marie (adorable Addison Riecke), as well as the teenage lust of Alicia (Elle Fanning).

— justin chang, star-telegram.com, "The Civil War-set ‘The Beguiled’ patiently weaves an intoxicating spell," 28 June 2017
No word on when his final Childish Gambino album will be released.

— lisa respers france, CNN, "Donald Glover is retiring Childish Gambino," 7 June 2017
Glover has released three albums as Childish Gambino since 2011, including last year’s psych-rock experiment Awaken, My Love!, which made its debut at No.

— patrick ryan, USA TODAY, "Donald Glover says next Childish Gambino album will be his last," 4 June 2017
The fruit of the lunacy starts with George and Harold (voiced with great childish glee by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch), two elementary school buddies who spend more time pulling pranks than studying.

— rick bentley, sacbee.com, "The many jokes are elementary in ‘Underpants’," 1 June 2017
The fruit of the lunacy starts with George and Harold (voiced with great childish glee by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch), two elementary school buddies who spend more time pulling pranks than studying.

— rick bentley, chicagotribune.com, "'Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie' review: Pee-wee's Playhouse' meets 'The Weird Al Show'," 1 June 2017
The fruit of the lunacy starts with George and Harold (voiced with great childish glee by Kevin Hart and Thomas Middleditch), two elementary school buddies who spend more time pulling pranks than studying.

— rick bentley, idahostatesman, "Lighten up and laugh at ‘Captain Underpants’," 1 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'childish.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of childish

see child

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

childish Synonyms

Synonyms

adolescent, babyish, immature, infantile, jejune, juvenile, kiddish, puerile

Antonyms

adult, grown-up, mature

Related Words

boyish, brattish, bratty, girlie (or girly), girlish; childlike, innocent, naive (or naïve), simple, simplistic, unsophisticated

Near Antonyms

unchildlike; cosmopolitan, experienced, knowing, smart, sophisticated, worldly, worldly-wise

CHILDISH Defined for English Language Learners

childish

play

adjective

Definition of childish for English Language Learners

: of a child or typical of a child; especially : having or showing the unpleasant qualities (such as silliness or lack of maturity) that children often have