Childlike

//ˈt͡ʃaɪldlaɪk// adj

adj ·Moderate ·High school level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Innocent and trustful; credulous; artless.

    "According to the prevailing Danish rationale, Greenlanders were naïve and childlike, in need of protection and incapable of governing themselves."

  2. 2
    Of, like, or suitable for a child.

    "Even Mario is given childlike mannerisms – running open-armed like a fearless toddler, whooping with delight – to convey playful innocence."

Adjective
  1. 1
    befitting a young child wordnet
  2. 2
    exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
childishyoungchildlyangelicartlessartless

Example

More examples

"His childlike laugh is charming."

Etymology

From child + -like.

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.