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 stoneware dishes, with their childlike design, candy-colored glazes, and divided compartments, might jog formative memories of Montessori sorting trays or vintage TV dinners. — Maya Ibbitson, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2026 The audience meets Carrie, meek and childlike, on her first day of school. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 He was known for his sense of whimsy, childlike wonder, and a love of the natural world—many of his preferred designs were based on flora and fauna and yielded fantastical images like mermaids, butterflies, and much more. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 29 Sep. 2026 Zoey The group’s youngest member, Zoey, is at the heart of it all and has a fun, childlike personality. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 24 Sep. 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
  • And how naive of me to believe that language could transcend grief.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Everyone thinks their kids’ slang is ridiculous and their parents’ politics naive.
    — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of naive
Adjective
  • Net-net, this is a genuine improvement for the customers of everything.
    — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The real question is whether the F 450 RR can deliver enough character and genuine riding pleasure to justify its premium positioning, particularly when the middleweight sportbike segment is getting increasingly crowded.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of genuine
Adjective
  • The actor wore a long black leather coat over a simple black tank, paired with straight-leg blue jeans cinched with a leather belt.
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The company played with flexible workdays instead of rigid schedules, clearer windows for collaboration, simpler rules for meetings, better ways to share and document work, and more intentional reasons for coming together in person.
    — Deborah Lovich, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of simple
Adjective
  • Andrew Durand, with his handsome crab-apple features, makes a perfectly quizzical Benjamin; Kelsee Kimmel is stirring as his true love, who shares his age just once.
    — Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Founded in Switzerland in 2010, On has collaborated with an impressive roster of partners over the last 16 years, from tennis legend Roger Federer to Spanish fashion house Loewe, all while staying true to its mission of celebrating movement.
    — Kasey Busiel, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of true
Adjective
  • As in many of the attractions, he’s based on a real person who experienced certain events.
    — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • The tension follows the women to Courtney’s event celebrating her husband’s birthday, where the real entertainment for the evening was Tia and Gizelle lacing stepping in the ring.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of real
Adjective
  • This would've already been an abnormal natural hot spell on top of a huge amount of climate change, Barnes said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026
  • After 100,000 years, radiation levels will decay back to those of natural uranium ore.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of natural
Adjective
  • What shocked him was how unregulated—and unsophisticated—the rental market seemed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Five months later, the Taliban militia, which had no airpower and unsophisticated weaponry, seized control of Kabul in just ten days.
    — Robin Wright, New Yorker, 11 Sep. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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