childish
[ chahyl-dish ]
adjective
of, like, or befitting a child: childish games.
puerile; weak; silly: childish fears.
Origin of childish
1synonym 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.
Opposites for childish
Other words from childish
- child·ish·ly, adverb
- child·ish·ness, noun
- o·ver·child·ish, adjective
- o·ver·child·ish·ly, adverb
- o·ver·child·ish·ness, noun
- un·child·ish, adjective
- un·child·ish·ly, adverb
- un·child·ish·ness, noun
Words that may be confused with childish
- childish , childlike (see synonym study at the current entry)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for childish
childish
/ (ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ) /
adjective
in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child
foolish or petty; puerile: childish fears
Derived forms of childish
- childishly, adverb
- childishness, 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
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