childish
Americanadjective
-
of, like, or befitting a child.
childish games.
-
puerile; weak; silly.
childish fears.
adjective
-
in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child
-
foolish or petty; puerile
childish fears
Related Words
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 Word Forms
- childishly adverb
- childishness noun
- overchildish adjective
- overchildishly adverb
- overchildishness noun
- unchildish adjective
- unchildishly adverb
- unchildishness noun
Etymology
Origin of childish
First recorded before 1000; Middle English childisch, Old English cildisc; child + -ish 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After 3½ decades of Francoism, during which, the author reminds us, the dictator “decided that Spaniards were too childish to govern themselves,” there was a palpable sense of a nation orphaned.
Such a strategy would be a childish way for this adult man to act.
From Salon
He became something worse Thursday night, a baseball player without any perspective, a selfish millionaire who placed his childish needs for retribution above the organization’s well-being.
From Los Angeles Times
Pick bins that aren’t overly childish, so their use can evolve over time.
From Seattle Times
All of the childish vigor Sandler is known for is still there, but filtered through several decades of indelible experience.
From New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
