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childlike

adjective

Definition of childlikenext
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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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 childlike Ahead of the sound bath, Oso Sound Healing Studio founder Avery Whitmore said the unconventional space would invite a childlike energy, a deeper connection to animals and introspection. — Emily Tarinelli, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 Even her childlike wonder cannot conceive of how wondrous her birth felt to me. — Miranda Rake, Parents, 25 Aug. 2026 Working at the Kunstgewerbeschule under educational reformer Franz Cžek, Wiener Werkstätte women also designed toys designed to tap into childlike spontaneity. — Emily Watlington, ARTnews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 The name refers to a male coming-of-age ritual, but the analog methods the duo used, in part, suggest a return to something past and playful, perhaps childlike—though the music shows maturation overall. — Vogue, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for childlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childlike
  1. naive
  2. genuine
  3. simple
  4. true
  5. real
  6. natural
  7. unsophisticated
Adjective
  • When the most senior people in the room ask the naive question first, everyone else gets permission to keep growing in public.
    — Brittany Murrey, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Turns out the two had a rather close bond, as Elia was very politically savvy compared to the naïve Rhaegar.
    — Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • The team also needed to confirm that the unusual structures were genuine electron behavior rather than artifacts created by the microscope.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Alan Wake 2 was a genuine work of art and an incredible game to experience, having just published my first book.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • During the recent session, Soto taught people how to make coils for teardrop designs along with other simple shapes.
    — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The simplest distinction is powered flight versus unpowered glide.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Showrunner Felicia Pride brought the concept to the streaming service with a goal to modernize the look and feel of the show while staying true to much of the feeling from the original.
    — Mya Copeland, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026
  • As much as there’s little room for nuance in the interval of frenzied overreaction that is Week 1 of the NFL season, two seemingly contradictory statements can be true at the exact same time.
    — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • The productivity is real, the margin improvement is real and the speed gains are real, and every company should capture them.
    — Sumeet Salwan, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • David Pakman examines just how far the need to perform for digital spectators has seeped into real life.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • Inspired by this natural technique, the development tackles a fundamental challenge in aerial robotics.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026
  • When men receive testosterone externally, the body typically reduces — or even stops — its natural sperm production.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • Five months later, the Taliban militia, which had no airpower and unsophisticated weaponry, seized control of Kabul in just ten days.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Sophisticated scams The days of thinking of scammers as unsophisticated, disjointed actors are over in 2026, according to Yoon.
    — Ella Moore July 2, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of unsophisticated

Browse Nearby Words

childishness
childlike
children
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Cite this Entry

“Childlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childlike. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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