cherubic

American  

[chuh-roo-bik] / tʃəˈru bɪk /

Sometimes cherubical

adjective

1. of or having the nature of a cherub, or an angel represented as a rosy-cheeked child with wings; angelic.

2. having a plump, pretty innocence.

   a cherubic face and a dazzling smile.

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Other Word Forms

• cherubically
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of cherubic

First recorded in 1620–1630; cherub + -ic

Explanation

Use the word cherubic to describe someone with a round face and an air of sweetness, whether you’re talking about a cute cooing baby or your innocent-looking, round-faced 40-year-old brother. The word cherubic, pronounced "CHAIR-uh-bick," is used to describe someone who looks like a cherub, a baby-like angel you’ve probably seen in Renaissance paintings. Today, you don’t have to be divine, winged, or even a child to be described as cherubic. The word describes those who have a rosy, childlike innocence and a sweet, pleasing roundness.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cherubic

With his cherubic face and spiky hair, Pinto is instantly recognisable.

From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026

JapanLA’s chat and sales exploded in the last two years, driven by demand for the cherubic figurines of a Japanese doll named Sonny Angels.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

Devoid of facial hair but sporting golden curls, the cherubic Parsons meets me at a Hollywood hotel’s courtyard restaurant in April just a few days after putting the final touches on his movie.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 14, 2026

Sagan’s novel was adapted into a film four years later, where French New Wave icon Jean Seberg put a cherubic face to Cécile’s scheming.

From Salon ● May 2, 2025

There was something cherubic about his face, yet he looked older than his thirty-five years— perhaps it was the sharply etched creases at the comers of his eyes, or the air of authority he projected.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer