childlike

adjective

child·​like ˈchī(-ə)l(d)-ˌlīk 

: resembling, suggesting, or appropriate to a child or childhood

especially : marked by innocence, trust, and ingenuousness

childlike delight

childlikeness noun

Examples of childlike in a Sentence

a grown woman with a childlike face

We gazed at it in childlike wonder.

She took a childlike glee in describing every detail.

Recent Examples on the Web

The narrator’s faith in this flimsy visual evidence is childlike. —Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025

The popular Bandai Namco childlike-horror franchise Little Nightmares is back and with more disturbances in tow. —Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025

Sprinkled with laughter and childlike energy, this debate explores the pros and cons of both worlds. —Jordan Owens, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025

Walter, the friendlier, less independent production-model variant of David, also played by Michael Fassbender, is the first of our mid-list trio of droids who keep the jittery, fragile humans around them at ease by being childlike. —Chris Klimek, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for childlike

• alike
• belike
• birdlike
• catlike
• christlike
• deathlike
• dislike
• dreamlike
• friedreich
• godlike
• hairlike
• homelike

Kids Definition

childlike

adjective

child·​like ˈchīl(d)-ˌlīk 

1

: resembling, suggesting, or suitable to a child or childhood

2

: showing the more pleasing qualities (as innocence or trustfulness) often thought to be those of children

childlike delight