Synonyms for childlike
ˈtʃaɪldˌlaɪkchild·like

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. childlikeadjective

   Synonyms:
   childly, childish

2. childlikeadjective

   innocent and trustful; credulous; artless

   Synonyms:
   childly, childish

3. childlikeadjective

   of, like, or suitable for a child; meek; submissive

   Synonyms:
   childly, childish

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. childlike

   Boyish, childish, and girlish are used in a good sense of those to whom they properly belong, but in a bad sense of those from whom more maturity is to be expected; childish eagerness or glee is pleasing in a child, but unbecoming in a man; puerile in modern use is distinctly contemptuous. Juvenile and youthful are commonly used in a favorable and kindly sense in their application to those still young; youthful in the sense of having the characteristics of youth, hence fresh, vigorous, light-hearted, buoyant, may have a favorable import as applied to any age, as when we say the old man still retains his youthful ardor, vigor, or hopefulness; juvenile in such use would belittle the statement. Young is distinctively applied to those in the early stage of life or not arrived at maturity. Compare NEW.

   Compare synonyms for OLD.

   Synonyms:
   adolescent, boyish, callow, childish, girlish, immature, juvenile, puerile, young, youthful

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. childlike, childlyadjective

   befitting a young child

   "childlike charm"

   Synonyms:
   round-eyed, childly, simple, dewy-eyed, wide-eyed

   Antonyms:
   old, sophisticated

2. childlike, wide-eyed, round-eyed, dewy-eyed, simpleadjective

   exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity

   "childlike trust"; "dewy-eyed innocence"; "listened in round-eyed wonder"

   Synonyms:
   uncomplicated, mere(a), simple(a), unproblematic, unsubdivided, dewy-eyed, round-eyed, childly, bare(a), saucer-eyed, elementary, dim-witted, simple-minded, wide, simple, wide-eyed

   Antonyms:
   old, sophisticated

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. childlikeadjective

   Synonyms:
   docile, meek, submissive, dutiful

Suggested Resources

1. Childlike

   Childish vs. Childlike -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Childish and Childlike.

How to pronounce childlike?

How to say childlike in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use childlike in a sentence?

1. Tyron Edwards:

   Anxiety is the rust of life, destroying its brightness and weakening its power. A childlike and abiding trust in Providence is its best preventive and remedy.

2. Will Smith:

   What Robin Williams did with this character - he just didn't leave a lot of room to add to the genie. So I started off fearful but then when I got with the music, it just started waking up that fun, childlike, silly part of me, this was the most joyful experience of my career.

3. Karl Kraus:

   Adults who still derive childlike pleasure from hanging gifts of a ready-made education on the Christmas tree of a child waiting outside the door to life do not realize how unreceptive they are making the children to everything that constitutes the true surprise of life.

4. Jo Malcomson:

   It was very much like entering into a magical wonderland. It's a childlike wondrous experience, which completely absorbs one's attention and captures one's imagination.

5. Albert Einstein:

   The point is to develop the childlike inclination for play and the childlike desire for recognition and to guide the child over to important fields for society. Such a school demands from the teacher that he be a kind of artist in his province.