as in naive
resembling or suggesting a child; like that of a child
a childlike honesty He had a childlike innocence that others found endearing.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of childlike
This doesn’t mean gem nails have to be childlike or loud, though; today’s styles feature daintier stones that shine brightly and are more refined than bulky, costume gems.
—
Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 8 Apr. 2026
But obviously there is a part of me, there’s a part of all of us, that is very childlike and innocent and has hope.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
This section features collages, handwritten notes, and paintings that explore themes of adolescence, vulnerability, and alienation through childlike figures.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
In this extraordinary moment, we're reminded that wisdom often comes in the smallest whispers, and true courage lies in following where we're led with childlike trust.
—New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 8 Apr. 2026
But obviously there is a part of me, there’s a part of all of us, that is very childlike and innocent and has hope.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
This section features collages, handwritten notes, and paintings that explore themes of adolescence, vulnerability, and alienation through childlike figures.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
In this extraordinary moment, we're reminded that wisdom often comes in the smallest whispers, and true courage lies in following where we're led with childlike trust.
—New Atlas, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for childlike
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childlike
Adjective
-
When a naïve piglet named Lucky (Gaten Matarazzo) rises to farmhouse leadership alongside the cunning boar Napoleon (Seth Rogen), the revolution sparked by their human farmer’s bankruptcy in the film‘s first act takes a turn for the fascist worse.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Not the naive version attempted in 2016.—
Emin Gün Sirer,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Some genuine hardhat-lunch pail, hand-in-the-dirt stuff with foundation anchored in cement, not sand.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Pinky knows this, hence her genuine tears with the lawyer, though sometimes the mask starts to drop.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
July 23 – August 22 Clarity today comes from keeping your message simple and grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Brown said Atlanta was taking away the Knicks’ spray game, which made the answer simpler.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon moves through your 1st House of Identity, bringing focus back to what’s true for you.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While that’s still true, some of these rising players are feeling the pain of fickle production, too.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And scratched nonstick pans are a real concern for most home cooks.—
Jennifer Zyman,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The milquetoast nature of the statement — with its measured language and nonexistent call to action — and the broader absence of real accountability have nagged at me for weeks.—
Uzma Rentia,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The emirate has just 72 kilometers (45 miles) of natural shoreline, but artificial islands and peninsulas have provided far more beachfront for its 4 million residents, and the millionaires and billionaires who collect such properties.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Instead of roasting, the dehydrating preserves natural flavor and delivers Daily Crunch's signature Uniquely Crunchy bite.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Since then, officials have also warned that even unsophisticated drones can pose serious risks.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
23 Apr. 2026
-
From a technological standpoint, the Mythos breach is embarrassingly unsophisticated.—
Robert Hart,
The Verge,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Childlike.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childlike. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
