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Synonyms

childlike

American  
[chahyld-lahyk] / ˈtʃaɪldˌlaɪk /

adjective

  1. like a child, as in innocence, frankness, etc.; befitting a child.

    childlike trust.

    Synonyms:
    innocent, trusting, guileless, simple, ingenuous, young
    Antonyms:
    adult, sophisticated

childlike British  
/ ˈtʃaɪldˌlaɪk /

adjective

  1. like or befitting a child, as in being innocent, trustful, etc Compare childish

"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

Synonym Usage

See childish.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of childlike

First recorded in 1580–90; child + -like

Vocabulary lists containing childlike

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.

See Examples For:

It’s a fun, childlike interpretation of the complexities of coming from two cultures and religions.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026

There’s a sense of childlike play in the work, but also an aura of the mythic, bringing to mind animal deities who hide deep in the wilds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

"I think a lot of the times we're told when we're adults that we can't enjoy things with this sense of childlike joy any more," she said.

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

In her tiny apartment in South Korea, where she lives alone, 78-year-old Bang Chun-ja spends her days with a childlike AI-powered doll she says she prefers to people.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

He was sitting, propped by several pillows, watching the commotion around him with a kind of abstracted childlike wonder.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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