as in naive
resembling or suggesting a child; like that of a child
a childlike honesty He had a childlike innocence that others found endearing.
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Recent Examples of childlike
Epic Universe, for example, transports visitors into worlds of childlike wonder.
—
Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s a kind of childlike playfulness to it.
—Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025
Her voice is a glowing, childlike meep, and her tingling synths massage the inside of the listener’s skull.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Breathtaking experiences These childlike spaces will leave you awestruck.
—Malik Peay, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 19 Dec. 2025
There’s a kind of childlike playfulness to it.
—Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 18 Dec. 2025
Her voice is a glowing, childlike meep, and her tingling synths massage the inside of the listener’s skull.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025
Breathtaking experiences These childlike spaces will leave you awestruck.
—Malik Peay, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childlike
Adjective
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Ma’s description of enormous, glistening grocery stores could be explained as the musings of a person who longs for stability and plentitude, or of a naive character who thinks of America as a land of boundless riches.—
Tope Folarin,
The Atlantic,
8 Nov. 2025
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But these juvenile white sharks may be naive to orcas.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Nothing wrong with a little fantasy, but this year’s astrology asks us to stop romanticizing potential and start paying attention to what feels genuine, reciprocal and enduring.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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The tears in Yang’s eyes appeared genuine.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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According to Bruce Blair, a former Air Force launch officer and nuclear policy expert, between 1962 and the mid-1970s the most powerful digits on the globe were simple – eight zeros.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
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That something as simple as a COVID vaccine might improve survival in cancer patients receiving standard immunotherapy has taken oncologists by surprise — in a good way.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The interior of the shoe stays true to the brand’s line of classic winter boots, lined with a plush wool blend.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
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One mailer in particular said that Persson and fellow Democratic candidates wanted to build apartments on 300 acres of green space, which isn’t true, Persson said.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The defense bent a lot and didn’t break often but didn’t have any real signature plays.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
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While some calas are accessible by car, others can only be reached by a short hike—that’s where visitors will find the real magic and privacy.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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With the climate crisis only deepening each year, throwing natural cycles and seasons into disarray, Japan is now bracing for future spikes in human-bear encounters each fall and spring.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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Systems to better protect oceans, coastal marshes and mangroves will also be on the agenda, as well as an emphasis on the indigenous people who live on and manage much of the world’s natural places.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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For Candy, getting to play the unsophisticated traveling salesman, a big man like himself, gave him an opportunity to showcase both his flair for broad comedy and, for the first time onscreen, his innate vulnerability.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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And there’s been this story that retail investors are unsophisticated.—
Fortune Editors,
Fortune,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Childlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childlike. Accessed 9 Jan. 2026.
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