as in immature
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
you almost spoiled the ceremony for everyone with your childish giggling
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Recent Examples of childish
The top is tufted, and the slightly pleated skirt gives it just enough charm without treading into childish territory.
—
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
Tuesday, Perez snapped back, accusing the governor of childish behavior.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
Ellis wants to be more, do more, and as much as he’s come to respect Saxton like a father, there’s a bit of childish resentment mixed in, too, for being treated like the second-best son.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for childish
Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2025
Tuesday, Perez snapped back, accusing the governor of childish behavior.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 May 2025
Ellis wants to be more, do more, and as much as he’s come to respect Saxton like a father, there’s a bit of childish resentment mixed in, too, for being treated like the second-best son.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 May 2025
Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for childish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childish
Adjective
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After hatching, the immature cicadas or nymphs spend 17 or 13 years underground, feeding on roots, then emerge during the spring and transform into adult cicadas.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
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And babies younger than six months old—who are ineligible for vaccination because of their immature immune system—have the highest rates COVID hospitalization after adults aged 75 and older.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
10 June 2025
Adjective
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With its whip-smart satire and adolescent vulnerability, the movie catapulted Williamson into the Hollywood spotlight.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
19 June 2025
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Researchers reviewing camera trap footage from a remote island off Panama found that a group of adolescent capuchin monkeys were routinely kidnapping baby howler monkeys and carrying them around like accessories.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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As summer approaches, a juvenile great white shark named Dold has today been detected off the Long Island coastline, marking the latest milestone in a months-long migration that has taken him up the U.S. East Coast.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
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On Wednesday, law enforcement officials responded to a report of a missing juvenile resident.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
19 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Childish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childish. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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