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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Some of the patterns may also be a little too childlike, but that’s a matter of personal preference.
—
Mike Richard, Men's Health, 28 Oct. 2022
Some pieces wrestled with the turbulence and violence of the day, but others had a childlike quality.
—Neil Genzlinger, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2022
As Payne slips deeper into his sober analyst role, Curry appears to be playing with more childlike joy than ever.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Nov. 2022
Moving freely through this scenery called up a childlike joy.
—Tess Taylor, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Mike Richard, Men's Health, 28 Oct. 2022
Some pieces wrestled with the turbulence and violence of the day, but others had a childlike quality.
—Neil Genzlinger, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Dec. 2022
As Payne slips deeper into his sober analyst role, Curry appears to be playing with more childlike joy than ever.
—Scott Ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, 30 Nov. 2022
Moving freely through this scenery called up a childlike joy.
—Tess Taylor, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childlike
Adjective
-
The credulous faith that these superpowers will voluntarily settle for some form of peaceful coexistence, if only they are sufficiently propitiated with concessions, is naive and dangerous.—
Michael Miklaucic,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Similarly naive are Trump’s and Biden’s attempts to regulate access to AI information — such as China’s AI restrictions.—
Lutz Finger,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Without further context, the statement feels hollow — lacking both accountability and a genuine acknowledgment of the culture that made the boot iconic.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Is this the genuine cargo or some wiry wisp of a Ringo impersonator?—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
That simplicity feels so apt for this show, There's enough here: The production is simple and sweet, while Jonas and Warren exude a certain magnetism.—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
7 Apr. 2025
-
Uncharacteristically for the times, a sincere and simple sentence in the active voice.—
David Bezmozgis,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
That versatility is, in a lot of ways, the true beauty of unicorns.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Voters are not famous for their patience or, as Joe Biden could explain, their fondness for higher prices, something that’s true even if this is a one-off adjustment.—
The Editors,
National Review,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Following Hailey’s response to the content creator, fans praised the Rhode founder for giving real, relatable feedback.—
Dayna Haffenden,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
Consistency is key: Heintzman recommends dry brushing at least once a week to get real results.—
Ariana Yaptangco,
Glamour,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Her makeup accentuated her natural beauty: a dark pink lip and rosy cheeks.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
This created what's termed a natural experiment, in that the populations born a few weeks on either side of this data should be roughly equivalent in terms of health risks and cumulative exposure.—
John Timmer,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Each of those words is unsophisticated alone and devastating when strung together.—
Joel Stein,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2025
-
Ertz and Gesicki are likely to want to play for contenders, while Conklin and Johnson will look to cash in on a fairly unsophisticated market.—
Mike Kaye,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Childlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childlike. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share