childish

adjective

child·​ish ˈchī(-ə)l-dish How to pronounce childish (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or befitting a child or childhood
childish desires for toys
2
a
: marked by or suggestive of immaturity and lack of poise
a childish spiteful remark
b
: lacking complexity : simple
it's a childish device, but it works
c
: deteriorated with age especially in mind : senile
his parents … were both getting childish and needed carePearl Buck
childishly adverb
childishness noun

Examples of childish in a Sentence

She has a childish face. a letter written in childish scrawl He opened the gifts with childish delight. We're tired of their childish games. I find his humor very childish.
Recent Examples on the Web While chaotic, April 1 is a favorite for many Americans, providing the childish fun absent from most days. Marina Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 18 Mar. 2024 Campillo sensitively captures the ensuing transition between childish fancy and disillusionment, which dovetails neatly with the Frenchmen’s apathetic shedding of colonial ideals — their days there are numbered, and everyone is waiting for the next chapter of their lives to begin. Guy Lodge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 That starts with taking their claims seriously, and not being distracted by our own childish biases. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 As workers begin to ration out the soup in various bowls, some children clamored at the gates amid shouts and childish cheers. NBC News, 20 Jan. 2024 In the past, floral fragrances were considered too childish or comparable to Grandma's potpourri, but now scents have complex notes worthy of signature status and a place on our best fragrances list. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 24 Jan. 2024 Earning the contempt of angry and childish pro-Hamas protesters is an incalculable benefit to him. Rich Lowry, National Review, 15 Jan. 2024 And, indeed, Sandler's stardom came on the back of him dicking around with funny voices, childish characters, and sketches based around both. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 14 Dec. 2023 And Indira kicks her useless husband to the curb in part because of the huge financial debt he’s burdened her with while pursuing his various futile childish dreams. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'childish.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

see child

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of childish was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near childish

Cite this Entry

“Childish.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childish. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

childish

adjective
child·​ish ˈchīl-dish How to pronounce childish (audio)
1
: of, resembling, or suitable to a child
childish laughter
2
: showing the less pleasing qualities (as silliness) often thought to be those of children
childishly adverb
childishness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on childish

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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