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
Cecilie Bahnsen’s Asics Mary Jane is ultramodern and childlike all at once, not dissimilar from the Danish designer’s line of romantic, frilly, and poofy, voluminous clothing.
—
Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 11 Aug. 2025
Determined to reconnect with the childlike joy of making music, Seavey aimed to create something fun and meaningful.
—Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2025
There’s this very childlike quality to him.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Designer runway show settings and seating arrangements themselves for spring 2025 also leaned into childlike wonder, with Bottega Veneta using animal bean bag chairs as its show seating and Coperni hosting its runway at Disneyland Paris.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Hannah Dylan Pasternak, SELF, 11 Aug. 2025
Determined to reconnect with the childlike joy of making music, Seavey aimed to create something fun and meaningful.
—Kristen Wisneski, Billboard, 7 Mar. 2025
There’s this very childlike quality to him.
—Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025
Designer runway show settings and seating arrangements themselves for spring 2025 also leaned into childlike wonder, with Bottega Veneta using animal bean bag chairs as its show seating and Coperni hosting its runway at Disneyland Paris.
—Lauren Alexis Fisher, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childlike
Adjective
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Their attempts at political discourse often veered toward the group speaking in vague, naïve universalisms.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
4 Sep. 2025
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At times on Saturday, Bremen were terribly naive, exhibiting all the fragility expected of a team built from inexperienced players.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Algorithmic Literacy requires genuine technical comprehension of AI capabilities, constraints, and ethical implications.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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But despite a certain staginess, and a tendency for the plot to suddenly stop to make way for the acting, Hedda is actually a genuine attempt to mine something new from the old text, a compelling fusion of Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn and Stephen Fry’s Bright Young Things.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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With just a few chairs, a handful of tables and a simple tent, the setting was intimate but filled with love and intention.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
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And one of these, for those of us accustomed to British conventions but who follow the game in continental Europe, is the simple passage of time.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Redshirt junior Colton Boomer and true freshman Canaan Moore ach missed a field goal — Boomer from 46 yards and Moore from 24.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Red maple Red maple stays true to its name.—
Chris McKeown,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Meeting these expectations has put real strain on automotive retail, challenging dealers to know when to rely on intelligent tools—and when to step in with human expertise.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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The final debut group will be selected through real-time global voting during the live broadcast.—
Laura Sirikul,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Merino wool also has natural temperature-regulating and odor-controlling properties—both of which are ideal for hiking.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Sep. 2025
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How much of this summer’s leap is down to the rules and how much is just the natural order of football is open to interpretation.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Police describe it as a brazen, unsophisticated robbery that occurred around 5:30 p.m. on June 18, targeting a jewelry store on the 5100 block of Mowry Avenue in Fremont.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
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Although the answer was reasonable for an unsophisticated seller, the listing agent should have required confirmation of licensing status with the Registrar of Contractors.—
Christopher A. Combs,
AZCentral.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Childlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childlike. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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