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Synonyms

inner child

American  
  1. the childlike aspect of a person's psyche, especially when viewed as an independent entity.

    healing your inner child through psychotherapy.


inner child British  

noun

  1. psychol the part of the psyche believed to retain feelings as they were experienced in childhood

"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

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 great way to feed your inner child while satisfying the palate you’ve built, sustained and refined into adulthood.

From Salon Jun. 28, 2026

"The games make us reminisce about our childhood... not only can we be healthier, but we can also enjoy that nostalgic feeling with our inner child," Akira said.

From Barron's Jun. 15, 2026

Still, I ordered one — I didn’t want to put a dimmer on his inner child indulgence.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 23, 2026

"Are you crying already... because we are! Hello to the inner child in you jumping up and down because #F4 just reunited! Tour soon? We hope!"

From BBC Jul. 14, 2025

I guess there’s a weird part of my inner child that just can’t seem to let go of the idea of a mother who cares.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

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