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
And then of course there are the intangibles—her dynamism, but also her vulnerability and almost childlike quality.
—
Marci Robin, Allure, 1 June 2026
Mechanical hands dexterous enough to thread a needle, childlike dancing robots and adult-sized ones to help with deliveries were on display Thursday as the Humanoids Summit Tokyo opened.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
The darling shoe feels sweet and playful at the same time; there’s a childlike ease to the style, which is probably one reason people are drawn to it.
—Eva Thomas, InStyle, 28 May 2026
And as for the showstopping pelican, the frog erupts out of its beak right on cue, a moment that indeed inspires a round of laughter and childlike awe.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Marci Robin, Allure, 1 June 2026
Mechanical hands dexterous enough to thread a needle, childlike dancing robots and adult-sized ones to help with deliveries were on display Thursday as the Humanoids Summit Tokyo opened.
—ABC News, 28 May 2026
The darling shoe feels sweet and playful at the same time; there’s a childlike ease to the style, which is probably one reason people are drawn to it.
—Eva Thomas, InStyle, 28 May 2026
And as for the showstopping pelican, the frog erupts out of its beak right on cue, a moment that indeed inspires a round of laughter and childlike awe.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childlike
Adjective
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At a time of growing polarization, goodwill may seem outdated or naïve.—
Mary Crossan,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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The court’s abdication of its modern responsibility for supervising electoral democracy seems to rest on the naive belief that democracy will succeed in regulating itself.—
Noah Feldman,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Adjective
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Tables filled with food, cheerful toasts and a genuine love for partying became popular with non-Armenian clientele too.—
Ani Duzdabanyan,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
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The actor argued that social media creates the illusion of intimacy while removing the unpredictability that comes with genuine human connection.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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My wife goes into the kitchen and returns with beer, fruit, and a few simple dishes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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When the Phoenix Mercury started chipping away at the Valkyries’ 18-point lead, threatening to turn a dominant night into a late-game nightmare, Golden State had a simple answer.—
Nathan Canilao,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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Any young actor in this business knows the hardest part is just getting in the door — actually, that’s not true, the hardest part is sustaining a long career.—
Scott Feinberg,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
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This is certainly true—and a rather banal truism.—
The Atlantic,
The Atlantic,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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Not only without the ball, their were moments of real quality when Cape Verde recovered possession, zipping the ball around the Spanish pressure and often looking to play their way out with short passes into midfield.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
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Newsom doesn’t collect any real revenue from his podcast, but did report collecting more than $100,000 in publication fee and royalties last year for books he’s written.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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One of the simplest ways, Crum said, is embracing the stress and then utilizing the body’s natural response.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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Reflective finishes, whether incorporated through furniture details, lighting, or accessories, help amplify both natural and artificial light, while adding visual depth.—
Angelika Pokovba,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
Adjective
-
Harley Earl wasn’t involved and the vehicles were unsophisticated compared with the current marketplace.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
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Still, the film has its rewards, mostly of the unsophisticated kind, since the fight sequences come fast and furious and the cheesy dialogue has enough groan-worthy one-liners to inspire a thousand drinking games.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Childlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childlike. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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