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 use of childish internet and video-game memes to describe violence is coarse and unworthy of the men and women who go in harm’s way.
—
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
However, this is a childish fantasy.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
The more childish and unrefined, the better.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Child actor Jax James has been set in the series regular role of Dougie, Maureen’s only son who is not even ten but acts like a 60-year-old scholar and has no time for childish fancies.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for childish
Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
However, this is a childish fantasy.
—Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 25 Mar. 2026
The more childish and unrefined, the better.
—Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Child actor Jax James has been set in the series regular role of Dougie, Maureen’s only son who is not even ten but acts like a 60-year-old scholar and has no time for childish fancies.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for childish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childish
Adjective
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Only this week, Conway doubled down with a stunt in front of Mfume’s district office, an act that would be immature and juvenile in an elementary school student government election, let alone a campaign for Congress.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026
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Faced with the prospect of deciding between Urlacher, a late bloomer in high school who almost wasn’t recruited before becoming a college All-American, and Michigan State receiver Plaxico Burress, regarded throughout the NFL as gifted but immature, the Bears did not have to choose.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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What supports adolescent contribution?—
Jen Agans,
The Conversation,
8 May 2026
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For any adolescent, a private bedroom is both sanctuary and mood board.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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In general, juvenile crimes are more often committed with others, and images of roaming throngs of teens has an outsized presence in media and in the public’s amygdala.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
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When officers arrived at the scene, a juvenile boy was being loaded into an ambulance.—
Chelsea Hylton,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Childish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childish. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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