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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Two adults and a child were injured by falling debris in Qatar as the country defended against Iranian attacks, its Ministry of Interior said Sunday. — CNN Money, 12 July 2026 Police said Reed’s statements indicated the children were in imminent danger. — The Star, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2026 For Black children, many of these deaths happen at public pools, similar to Baxter’s almost fatal case. — Amara Evering, Miami Herald, 11 July 2026 In Ukraine's northeast Sumy region, four people were killed, including a child, and 17 people were wounded when two aerial glide bombs hit a crowded area where civilians were present, said Sumy regional head Oleh Hryhorov. — ABC News, 11 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
  • For older kids who have trouble adjusting to the demands on the school year, plenty of time to wind down after school and a predictable morning routine are key.
    — Parents, Parents, 17 July 2026
  • That said, this probably won’t be even faintly legible on a home entertainment system, let alone the handheld gadgets that kids like the ones seen here prefer to watch entertainment on these days.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 17 July 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • Lots of acorns one year means lots of mice the next, which gives baby ticks a greater chance of biting a mouse and surviving long enough to bite us.
    — Meg Tirrell, CNN Money, 14 July 2026
  • Families across Southeast Michigan now have access to a specialized ambulance designed specifically for babies and children in need of critical medical transport.
    — Hannah McIlree, CBS News, 13 July 2026
Definition of baby
Noun
  • Even in that outcome, however, as Law recently wrote, Wiggins could end up one day thriving as a high-leverage arm.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 12 July 2026
  • Kaley’s case was a first-of-its-kind lawsuit, and the verdict could influence the outcome of thousands of similar lawsuits accusing social media companies of deliberately causing harm.
    — Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
Definition of outcome
Noun
  • That’s the percentage of infants globally who received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine last year, according to annual WHO and UNICEF estimates.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 15 July 2026
  • Kaufman has also been criticized for arguing in the past against giving infants the hepatitis B vaccine and questioning if vaccines are connected to autism and other health issues.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of infant
Noun
  • On May 28, Johnson received results finding that the DNA profile sampled from one of Brown’s soda bottles could not be excluded as the contributor of the male blood from the victim’s nightgown, the detective wrote.
    — Amy McDaniel, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026
  • The chip sell-off also come despite strong results from ASML.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 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
  • Every year, a group of 50 boys must complete the titular Long Walk, traveling at 3mph or faster until only one remains.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026
  • Adding to Marmion’s 13 boys sports, the girls will start out with seven — swimming, volleyball and cross-country in the fall; basketball and wrestling in the winter; soccer and track and field in the spring.
    — Dave Oberhelman, Chicago Tribune, 11 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 19 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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