childishness

noun

1
as in nonsense

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2
as in inexperience

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Dissimilar Words

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 childishness The childishness of his expressions infantilized a genuinely vicious regime, painting it as more peevish than petrifying. — Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 9 Apr. 2026 The actor relishes all aspects of Dahl’s childishness, and the humanity within the beast emerges in small moments. — Daniel D'addario, Variety, 24 Mar. 2026 Cove, on West Houston Street, does not mark an especially obvious step into maturity or anything narratively pat like that, because McGarry’s cooking and his businesses have never really had so much as a hint of childishness to begin with. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026 The gesture’s lack of dignity, its childishness, its pettiness, are completely in character. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childishness
  1. nonsense
  2. inexperience
  3. joking
  4. sincerity
  5. buffoonery
  6. frankness
  7. jesting
  8. straightforwardness
Noun
  • His music often transforms a nonsense line or a passing thought into something profound.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 16 July 2026
  • The show, created by Stephen Hillenburg, made its official debut after that on July 17, 1999, and it's been nautical nonsense from that day on.
    — Bianca Harris, USA Today, 15 July 2026
Definition of nonsense
Noun
  • But Karic said naivety in decision-making, due to age or inexperience, can sometimes play a role with a younger club.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 15 July 2026
  • The inexperience of this Bulls team showed in a visible lack of comfort both creating plays and protecting the ball.
    — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
Definition of inexperience
Noun
  • Back in December 1968, Dolan wrote a joking column about the earlier Lake Worth monster, from way back in 1947.
    — Star-Telegram staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 July 2026
  • Oh, but the Padres manager was ready with the joking last night.
    — Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 June 2026
Definition of joking
Noun
  • In a testament to that sincerity, Neil Young had the Stop Shopping Choir open for him on his 2024 tour.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026
  • That same blurring of artifice and sincerity informs their debut full-length, TOY COLLAGES.
    — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 13 July 2026
Definition of sincerity
Noun
  • Without Roberts in charge, expect the political and racial buffoonery to creep back into the conversation at ESPN.
    — Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Apr. 2026
  • The show, with its interest in corporate buffoonery, doesn’t quite manage to hand-wave away the queasy implications.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of buffoonery
Noun
  • Seydoux asks me in a moment of frankness.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 18 May 2026
  • Her love for the city is palpable, imbued with her frankness, her fun, her queerness, and her history.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of frankness
Noun
  • Hudson showed some subtle support for the jesting knocks to her boyfriend by reposting a clip of his final joke shared on Fox News' official X page.
    — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
  • No matter what happened, Dunham could not seem to help posting through it, her public persona one of infinite jesting confession.
    — Madeline Leung Coleman, Vulture, 14 Apr. 2026
Definition of jesting
Noun
  • But the Windows handheld software experience on the Claw is just awful compared to the straightforwardness of SteamOS on the Steam Deck.
    — Jay Peters, The Verge, 23 June 2026
  • On Monday morning, Starmer, whose resignation has appeared inevitable for some time, delivered the news with his customary straightforwardness.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 22 June 2026
Definition of straightforwardness

Browse Nearby Words

childish
childishness
childlike
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Cite this Entry

“Childishness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childishness. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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