child

noun

ˈchī(-ə)ld How to pronounce child (audio)
Definition of childnext
1
as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood an imaginative animated film that appeals to adults as well as to children

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in baby
a recently born person wrapped the child in a blanket before taking him outside in the cold

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outcome
a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause widespread stress is the child of the frenetic pace of the modern world

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of child The Spencer girls worked at the Washington home, and the Washington children were friends with the Spencer children. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 But the dangerous downside, of course, is that people without licenses, especially children, could potentially do this and put themselves or others in a world of hurt. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026 Rats, cockroaches and weasels run amok, tearing through limp tent sheets and biting children and newborn babies in their sleep. — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026 Some beachgoers have lamented that Laguna Beach’s policy is too restrictive, and that long days spent on the sand require more shade than a small umbrella provides, particularly for families with small children. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for child
Recent Examples of Synonyms for child
  1. kid
  2. baby
  3. outcome
  4. infant
  5. result
  6. toddler
  7. resultant
  8. boy
Noun
  • Neither bride nor groom have kids from previous relationships out of wedlock.
    — Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Jake’s analysis found that the UK’s intervention may run all summer, with media plurality issues around news plus kids’ channels portfolios in the spotlight.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 July 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • In the post, Clements shared a candid photo of George breastfeeding her baby boy, alongside shots of her trip through the French countryside and some photos of her older children.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
  • Owens explained that baby copperhead bites — and copperhead bites in general — are rare.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Definition of baby
Noun
  • What Othram testing could mean in Murdaugh’s case The request for Othram testing does not mean the unknown DNA will change the outcome of Murdaugh’s case.
    — Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
  • The outcome, coupled with a result in the previous game, keeps alive the potential for a Colombia-Argentina quarterfinal here next Saturday, July 11.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, a floppy neck and trouble swallowing, the CDC says.
    — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026
  • If untreated, a mother who has these conditions has a higher risk of birth complications, overall poorer health, impaired bonding and nurturing of her infant, and a higher risk of death by suicide.
    — Camille Hoffman, The Conversation, 7 July 2026
Definition of infant
Noun
  • Any actions against those responsible for the structural failure are pending the results of the ongoing investigation, the agency said.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • The result is a new generation of patients planning trips around treatments rather than squeezing appointments into an existing vacation.
    — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Definition of result
Noun
  • Paramedics took the child to the hospital, where the toddler died, Grace Mariot, a police spokeswoman, said.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
  • The Folsom Police Department asked for help Saturday after officers found a toddler without their parents.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of toddler
Noun
  • The resultant sonic boom shock waves frequently shattered windows, cracked building walls, and unnerved citizens within earshot.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 1 July 2026
  • Justices Thomas and Jackson focused in part on the court’s notorious 1857 decision called Dred Scott, which ruled a slave couldn’t be a citizen or claim the resultant rights and privileges.
    — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 30 June 2026
Definition of resultant
Noun
  • The Nationals’ Youth Baseball Academy in Southeast, a staple since 2013, is a wonderful venue for both boys’ baseball teams in middle and high schools, and for girls’ softball teams.
    — David Aldridge, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • One boy, 12, succumbed to the heat and passed out, with EMS medics and police rushing to help him, according to PIX 11.
    — Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 4 July 2026
Definition of boy

Phrases Containing child

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chignons
child
child's play
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Cite this Entry

“Child.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/child. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on child

Nglish: Translation of child for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about child

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