childish

[chahyl-dish]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR childish ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, like, or befitting a child: childish games.

puerile; weak; silly: childish fears.

Origin of childish

before 1000; Middle English childisch, Old English cildisc. See child, -ish¹

Related formschild·ish·ly, adverbchild·ish·ness, nouno·ver·child·ish, adjectiveo·ver·child·ish·ly, adverbo·ver·child·ish·ness, nounun·child·ish, adjectiveun·child·ish·ly, adverbun·child·ish·ness, noun

Can be confusedchildish childlike (see synonym study at the current entry)

Synonym study

2. Childish, infantile, childlike refer to characteristics or qualities of childhood. The ending -ish often has unfavorable connotations; childish therefore refers to characteristics that are undesirable and unpleasant: childish selfishness, outbursts of temper. Infantile, originally a general word, now often carries an even stronger idea of disapproval or scorn than does childish : infantile reasoning, behavior. The ending -like has pleasing or neutral connotations; childlike therefore refers to the characteristics that are desirable and admirable: childlike innocence, trust.

Antonyms for childish

mature, adult.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for childish

naive, foolish, youthful, childlike, adolescent, baby, babyish, callow, frivolous, green, infantile, innocent, jejune, juvenile, puerile, unsophisticated, young, infantine

Examples from the Web for childish

Contemporary Examples of childish

We are not "equal" and you are not an ally if this is the childish base of your notions.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting
Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard
December 10, 2014
The slimy, childish, petulant Viserys starts off as a symbol of everything about Targaryen rule Westeros has rejected.
Who Died and Made You Khaleesi? Privilege, White Saviors, and the Elusive Male Feminist Who Doesn’t Suck
Arthur Chu
June 24, 2014
Why turn a genuine good-news story into an expression of childish pettiness?
What Is William and Harry's Problem With The Press?
Tom Sykes
February 14, 2014
The gorgeous sushi chef he meets and falls in love with, Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung), is equally silly and childish.
What Asian Film Remakes Like ‘Oldboy’ Get Wrong
Jimmy So
November 26, 2013
According to the blog, she soon “backtracked” on her comments, deleting the Facebook thread, and calling the brouhaha “childish.”
An Absurd Push for Separation of Religion and State in Canada
Mira Sucharov
November 15, 2013

Historical Examples of childish

I have often heard Pericles speak of his childish obstinacy and perseverance.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
A girl of Frederica's age must be childish indeed, if such things do not strike her.
Lady Susan
Jane Austen
"So you can work—you really can work," repeated Angelique with childish joy.
The Dream
Emile Zola
Ah, that was only making believe and childish play; this was reality.
Green Mansions
W. H. Hudson
But just then my childish pride was grievously piqued by Philip's criticism.
In the Valley
Harold Frederic

British Dictionary definitions for childish

childish

adjective

in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child

foolish or petty; puerilechildish fears

Derived Formschildishly, adverbchildishness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for childish

adj.

Old English cildisc "proper to a child;" see child + -ish. Meaning "puerile, immature, like a child" in a bad sense is from early 15c. Related: Childishly; childishness.