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 Images of shape-shifting witches and cursed doors blur the lines between reality and the twins’ childlike imagination. — Jude Noel, Pitchfork, 22 July 2026 Taylor-Joy brings the necessary confidence to her confidence woman, while still conveying the childlike fear inherent to a character who’s felt trapped her whole life. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 July 2026 Fun and games A childlike wonder informs many of the rooms too. — Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 14 July 2026 Innocent, childlike ways to cope with a tragedy even most adults struggle to reckon with. — Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 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
  • Brand New Day shows Peter leaving his more naive teen years behind and truly coming of age.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Ted was genuinely out of his depth, the conflicts felt earned, and the show still had to persuade audiences that its relentless optimism wasn’t naïve.
    — Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • The case that American leadership in this technology carries a genuine security dimension has never looked stupid to me.
    — Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
  • To make Chinese legal institutions more appealing, Beijing would need to grant them genuine autonomy rather than merely expecting professionalism in routine cases.
    — Mark Jia, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • The task seemed like a simple one for a digital agent, as the booking form was online.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Mungiu refuses to supply easy answers or simple paths to identification in this compelling provocation, which poses unresolvable questions to viewers about our biases and presumptions.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • But regardless of any lack of confidence in Hamas’ true intentions, in Mladenov’s faith in the ability to verify weapons decommissioning, or indeed Netanyahu’s own willingness to order any troop withdrawals, why poke Trump so publicly in the eye?
    — Andrew Carey, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • This problem-first strategy is crucial for unlocking AI's true potential.
    — Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • This is the second episode but, in some respects, the real kickoff to this new season.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The real causes of inflammation are dietary patterns that contain too many calories, too much sugar, or too much saturated fat.
    — Marie Bladt, Vogue, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • For best results, refresh natural mulches once a year in spring or fall to keep mulch lines good and thick.
    — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
  • By putting fashion, food, art and hospitality into the same natural flow, Fontainebleau makes that customer’s time work considerably harder.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 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 12 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of childlike for Spanish Speakers

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