as in immature
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children
you almost spoiled the ceremony for everyone with your childish giggling
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of childish
There is, equally, a certain childish hope that Vuong’s reader will approach him with the benevolent incomprehension of a maternal figure.
—
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Yes, there may have been some childish instinct to defend Twain.
—John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
The angular clock hands and classic-leaning clock face protect this personality piece from becoming gimmicky or childish, and instead remaining sophisticated and tasteful.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2025
See, the issue here isn’t that a college dude did a dumb, childish thing.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childish
Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025
Yes, there may have been some childish instinct to defend Twain.
—John Jeremiah Sullivan, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
The angular clock hands and classic-leaning clock face protect this personality piece from becoming gimmicky or childish, and instead remaining sophisticated and tasteful.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2025
See, the issue here isn’t that a college dude did a dumb, childish thing.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childish
Adjective
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Peripheral blood smear: A sample of your blood is examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells, including immature cells that shouldn’t normally be in the bloodstream.—
Health,
Health,
24 May 2025
-
Concluding the movie as a surprisingly mature teenager is a fascinating transition into a decade-plus of Cruise playing immature grown-ups.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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There are so many adults like myself walking around with these adolescent feelings of rejection.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
24 May 2025
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And how have the brothers changed since their early years as adolescent stars?—
Shania Russell,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
Adjective
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About a week later, a juvenile suspect was arrested in connection with the stabbing.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
26 May 2025
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David Shannon, who was appointed state’s attorney for the Judicial District of Litchfield in March 2022, oversees prosecutions at Superior Court in Torrington, Torrington Superior Court Geographical Area No. 18 and juvenile matters in Torrington.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Childish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childish. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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