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 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 That doesn’t make the games any less competitive — or physical — but a childlike glee underscores every aspect of those hoop sessions. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 Pops seem to burst all around me, childlike and surreal, bubbles breaking. — Margrét Ann Thors, PEOPLE, 2 Aug. 2026 But the film overflows with childlike wonder, a comic-strip dream of girls next door and nerdy weirdoes growing muscles with puberty. — Darren Franich, Entertainment Weekly, 1 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
  • The rookies, of which the Dolphins drafted an NFL-high 13 players, could be considered a bit naive to the intricacies of an NFL season.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2026
  • By the early sixties, the romance of the untaught or naïve artist was really catching.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • With what seems like little embellishment to real locations (including a genuine culture of female-only caddies sporting bright colors), the movie captures a languid, top-down strangeness.
    — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The aesthetic lineage Wingard invokes relied on the genuine nastiness of works like Faster, Pussycat!
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • Underpinning this assessment is the fact that disagreements between the two nations have gradually expanded beyond simple tariff disputes.
    — , CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • In simple terms, cherry juice targets the muscle inflammation caused by exercise, known as oxidative stress.
    — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • There was skepticism about Vizzina, who threw only 105 passes in his first three years at Clemson and then was pushed by true freshman Tait Reynolds for the starting role in preseason camp.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • This is true for the franchise as a whole; RHOA is the city that turned Housewives into a sport that requires real skill and charisma.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • A lot of teams at the bottom might be tanking for Arch Manning, and there is no real new blood at quarterback this season.
    — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Many companies now rely on AI screening tools that filter applications based on keywords rather than real qualifications.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • Let your confidence come through in choices that feel honest and natural.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • After phasing it out in 2022, the brand brought back the original formula last year in response to fans who missed its weightless feel and natural-looking medium coverage.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • 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
  • Phishing remains one of the most effective means of gaining access to accounts, despite the relatively unsophisticated technical prowess required.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 29 June 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 9 Sep. 2026.

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