Definition

Adjective: 1. Having the good qualities of a child; innocent, trusting, or ingenuous: This meaning describes a positive, often endearing, quality of being like a child in a pure, honest, or simple way. 2. Characteristic of or befitting a child: This meaning describes something that is appropriate for or typical of a young child.

Examples of Usage

• Innocent and trusting:
  • She has a childlike faith in the goodness of people.
  • His childlike enthusiasm for the project was contagious.
• Befitting a child:
  • The room was decorated with childlike drawings.
  • He spoke with a childlike directness that was both surprising and charming.

Advanced Usage

• "Childlike wonder": A sense of amazement and curiosity, as if seeing something for the first time.
  • She looked at the night sky with childlike wonder.
• "Childlike simplicity": An uncomplicated, straightforward, and honest manner.
  • The story is told with a childlike simplicity that makes it very powerful.

Variants and Related Words

• Childish (adj): This is often a negative term, meaning immature, silly, or petty, as in .
  • Key Difference: "Childlike" is generally positive (innocent, trusting), while "childish" is generally negative (immature).
• Child (n): The base noun.
• Childhood (n): The state or time of being a child.

Synonyms

• Innocent: Free from guilt or sin; pure.
• Naive: Showing a lack of experience, wisdom, or judgment (can be neutral or slightly negative, unlike the more positive "childlike").
• Guileless: Devoid of guile; innocent and without deception.
• Ingenuous: Innocent and unsuspecting.

Antonyms

• Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful.
• Jaded: Bored or lacking enthusiasm after having had too much of something.
• Worldly: Experienced and sophisticated.
• Skeptical: Not easily convinced; having doubts.

Adjective

1. exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity
   • childlike trust
   • dewy-eyed innocence
   • listened in round-eyed wonder
2. befitting a young child
   • childlike charm