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.

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How to use childlike in a sentence?

1. Sherwood Anderson:

   General Grant had a simple, childlike recipe for meeting life ... I am terribly afraid, but the other fellow is afraid, too.

2. Sean Bailey:

   Someone once said to Walt Disney that you make movies for kids, and he said, 'No I don't. I make movies for the kids inside all of us, whether we're six or 60,' that's sort of how we feel. We try to treat these stories in a way that we can transport adults to a feeling of awe and wonderment that's more childlike... and we never try to bring anything down to kids. We believe kids can handle some complexity.

3. Wesley Anderson:

   The normal adult filters and belief systems of what is and what isn't will start to fade, clients become almost childlike.

4. 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.

5. Chelsea Wolfe:

   The veil was a childlike way for me to feel like there was some sort of barrier between the audience and I when I first started playing shows, i wanted to hide. It helped, but I also wanted to overcome that and push myself to be a stronger person and performer.