childish

[ chahyl-dish ]

/ ˈtʃaɪl dɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: childish / childishness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

puerile; weak; silly: childish fears.

OPPOSITES FOR childish

mature, adult.

See antonyms for childish on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of childish

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

synonym study for childish

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM childish

child·ish·ly, adverbchild·ish·ness, nouno·ver·child·ish, adjectiveo·ver·child·ish·ly, adverb

o·ver·child·ish·ness, nounun·child·ish, adjectiveun·child·ish·ly, adverbun·child·ish·ness, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH childish

childish , childlike (see synonym study at the current entry)

Words nearby childish

Childers, childfree, child guidance, childhood, childing, childish, child labor, child labor laws, child labour, childlike, childly

How to use childish in a sentence

McDonald’s accompanied the release with an expensive marketing campaign that iterated, then reiterated, that this “burger with the grownup taste” was not for childish palates.
The Arch Deluxe Was a Hell of a Burger. It Was Also McDonald’s Most Expensive Flop.|Jeremy Glass|July 23, 2021|Eater
Tim was goofy and childish, whereas Jill, his wife, was always ready – with a disapproving scowl, a snappy remark and seemingly endless stores of patience – to bring him back in line.
Why Are Sitcom Dads Still So Inept?|LGBTQ-Editor|June 17, 2021|No Straight News
There’s something about when you’re a parent and your children get sick, they get more childish.
These Mothers Wanted to Care for Their Kids and Keep Their Jobs. Now They're Suing After Being Fired|Eliana Dockterman|March 3, 2021|Time
If anything, the only real surprise was that these childish actions were coming from a sitting member of Congress.
Why the Equality Act Matters For Our Family—And For Many Others Across America|Marie Newman and Evie Newman|March 3, 2021|Time

Resorting to Santa, a childish character in whom adults should not believe, shows how desperate I was.
2021 is the year to dream big|Michael K. Lavers and Yariel Valdés González|December 31, 2020|Washington Blade
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
It seems to be attempting satire in the vein of a Grand Theft Auto game, but, like GTA is occasionally, it just seems childish.
A Study in Xbox One Violence: Dead Rising 3 Vs. Ryse: Son of Rome|Alec Kubas-Meyer|December 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
In this case, I suspect, there was co-operant a strongly marked childish characteristic, the love of producing an effect.
Children's Ways|James Sully
One of the simplest of these childish tricks is the invention of an excuse for not instantly obeying a command, as "Come here!"
Children's Ways|James Sully
There is, perhaps, in this childish suffering often something more than the sense of being homeless and outcast.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Could this be the safe old house in which childish days had passed, in which all around were always friendly and familiar faces?
Checkmate|Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Here, as in so many of these childish admirations, we have to do not with a purely æsthetic perception.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for childish

childish

/ (ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ) /

adjective

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

foolish or petty; puerilechildish fears

Derived forms of childish

childishly, 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

childish

OPPOSITES FOR childish

Origin of childish

synonym study for childish

OTHER WORDS FROM childish

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH childish

Words nearby childish

Words related to childish

How to use childish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for childish

Derived forms of childish