Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Characteristic of or suitable for a child: Having the qualities, innocence, or simplicity often associated with children.
   • Showing a lack of maturity; foolish or petty: Behaving in a silly or unreasonable way that is not appropriate for an adult.

Usage

The adjective "childish" is used to describe behavior, attitudes, or ideas. It can be neutral when referring to things literally appropriate for children, but it is often used in a negative or critical way to describe an adult's immature conduct.

Examples

• Neutral/Descriptive:

  • She has a childish enthusiasm for cartoon characters. (Her enthusiasm is innocent and reminiscent of a child's.)
  • The room was decorated with childish drawings. (The drawings were made by or for children.)

• Negative/Critical:

  • It was childish of him to get angry over such a small mistake. (His anger was petty and unreasonable.)
  • Their argument was based on childish name-calling. (The argument was immature and silly.)

Advanced Usage

• "Childish delight/joy": A pure, uncomplicated happiness often seen in children.
  • He felt a childish delight when he saw the surprise party.
• "Childish behavior/attitude": A common phrase to criticize immature actions.
  • The manager's refusal to listen to feedback was seen as childish behavior.

Variants and Related Words

• Childlike (adj): Typically has a positive connotation, emphasizing the qualities of children, such as innocence, wonder, or trust.
  • Her childlike curiosity made her a great scientist. (Positive)
  • Compare to: His childish curiosity made him interrupt constantly. (Negative, implying poor manners)
• Child (n): The noun from which "childish" is derived.
• Childishly (adv): In a childish manner.
  • He reacted childishly to the criticism.

Synonyms

• Immature: Not fully developed in emotional or behavioral terms.
• Infantile: Very childish, often implying foolishness (similar to the negative sense of "childish").
• Juvenile: Characteristic of young people; can be neutral or negative.
• Puerile (formal): Childishly silly and trivial.

Antonyms

• Mature: Fully developed in personality and emotional behavior.
• Adult: Characteristic of a fully grown person; sensible.
• Sophisticated: Having worldly experience and knowledge.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Don't be so childish!": A common reprimand telling someone to stop acting in a silly, immature way.
• "Childish games": Can refer literally to games for children, or metaphorically to petty, manipulative behavior between adults.
  • I'm tired of your childish games; let's discuss this seriously.

Adjective

1. indicating a lack of maturity
   • childish tantrums
   • infantile behavior