Childish
adjective
Belonging to, resembling, or suitable for a child.
Her childish enthusiasm was infectious.
adjective
Having or showing the immature behavior expected more of children than adults.
He's being incredibly childish about this.
Often appears as...
- act childish
- childish behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Belonging to, resembling, or suitable for a child.
Her childish enthusiasm was infectious.
adjective
Having or showing the immature behavior expected more of children than adults.
He's being incredibly childish about this.
Often appears as...
- act childish
- childish behavior
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Positive Connotation
Can express endearing qualities associated with children, like innocence or genuine excitement.
Her childish glee at seeing puppies was heartwarming.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Only Negative
While 'childish' can seem critical, it's not always negative and can show fondness.
She smiled at his childish wonder during the fireworks.
Pro Tip 3/3Literal Use
Used to describe objects or actions literally meant for or typical of children.
The small chairs at the table looked rather childish.
Pro Tip 1/3Positive Connotation
Can express endearing qualities associated with children, like innocence or genuine excitement.
Her childish glee at seeing puppies was heartwarming.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Only Negative
While 'childish' can seem critical, it's not always negative and can show fondness.
She smiled at his childish wonder during the fireworks.
Pro Tip 3/3Literal Use
Used to describe objects or actions literally meant for or typical of children.
The small chairs at the table looked rather childish.
Pro Tip 1/3Positive Connotation
Can express endearing qualities associated with children, like innocence or genuine excitement.
Her childish glee at seeing puppies was heartwarming.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Only Negative
While 'childish' can seem critical, it's not always negative and can show fondness.
She smiled at his childish wonder during the fireworks.
Pro Tip 3/3Literal Use
Used to describe objects or actions literally meant for or typical of children.
The small chairs at the table looked rather childish.
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Video examples
Which country does the...
because that's why people will respect you and do business with you, and therefore, the more you collaborate, the more competitive you become. This is quite an important discovery, and as soon as I discovered this, I felt another index coming on. I swear that as I get older, my ideas become simpler and more and more childish.
Video examples
What fear can teach us PIPE...
as frightening as the one in which these sailors found themselves, but we all know what it's like to be afraid. We know how fear feels, but I'm not sure we spend enough time thinking about what our fears mean. As we grow up, we're often encouraged to think of fear as a weakness, just another childish thing to discard
Video examples
James Rhee: The value of...
And I found myself wheeling and dealing as an investment banker and a private equity investor for many years. And the lessons from that red helicopter, they seemed incredibly childish and weirdly misguided in the world of business and finance. Because let’s face non-revenue-generating investments in people,
Video examples
What fear can teach us -...
sailors found themselves but we all know what it's like to be afraid we know how fear feels but I'm not sure we spend enough time thinking about what our fears mean as we grow up we're often encouraged to think of fear as a weakness just another childish thing to discard
Video examples
What adults can learn...
examples age has absolutely nothing to do with it the traits the word childish addresses are seen so often in adults that we should abolish this age discriminatory word when it comes to criticizing behavior associated with irresponsibility and irrational thinking
Video examples
Reimagining Dinosaurs...
insects in the garden yeah it was i don't know i guess like a very childish fascination for for life out there and so when i was um a little kid i got i think three years old according to my mom i don't remember that at all um
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari...
seeing that the technology and the engineering is incredible and the philosophy is sometimes very childish indeed but some people listening to this will go okay you you've gone all philosophical on us and um the world can't
Video examples
What adults can learn...
we are called childish. Which really bothers me. After all, take a look at these Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself, who's responsible? Adults. Now, what have kids done?
Video examples
"All the World's a...
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
Video examples
Where joy hides and how...
Adults who exhibit genuine joy are often dismissed as childish or too feminine or unserious or self-indulgent,
Video examples
Which country does the...
because that's why people will respect you and do business with you, and therefore, the more you collaborate, the more competitive you become. This is quite an important discovery, and as soon as I discovered this, I felt another index coming on. I swear that as I get older, my ideas become simpler and more and more childish.
Video examples
What fear can teach us PIPE...
as frightening as the one in which these sailors found themselves, but we all know what it's like to be afraid. We know how fear feels, but I'm not sure we spend enough time thinking about what our fears mean. As we grow up, we're often encouraged to think of fear as a weakness, just another childish thing to discard
Video examples
James Rhee: The value of...
And I found myself wheeling and dealing as an investment banker and a private equity investor for many years. And the lessons from that red helicopter, they seemed incredibly childish and weirdly misguided in the world of business and finance. Because let’s face non-revenue-generating investments in people,
Video examples
What fear can teach us -...
sailors found themselves but we all know what it's like to be afraid we know how fear feels but I'm not sure we spend enough time thinking about what our fears mean as we grow up we're often encouraged to think of fear as a weakness just another childish thing to discard
Video examples
What adults can learn...
examples age has absolutely nothing to do with it the traits the word childish addresses are seen so often in adults that we should abolish this age discriminatory word when it comes to criticizing behavior associated with irresponsibility and irrational thinking
Video examples
Reimagining Dinosaurs...
insects in the garden yeah it was i don't know i guess like a very childish fascination for for life out there and so when i was um a little kid i got i think three years old according to my mom i don't remember that at all um
Video examples
Yuval Noah Harari...
seeing that the technology and the engineering is incredible and the philosophy is sometimes very childish indeed but some people listening to this will go okay you you've gone all philosophical on us and um the world can't
Video examples
What adults can learn...
we are called childish. Which really bothers me. After all, take a look at these Imperialism and colonization, world wars, George W. Bush. Ask yourself, who's responsible? Adults. Now, what have kids done?
Video examples
"All the World's a...
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side; His youthful hose, well sav’d, a world too wide For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
Video examples
Where joy hides and how...
Adults who exhibit genuine joy are often dismissed as childish or too feminine or unserious or self-indulgent,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Martin Scorsese
American Director
Being a father at a later age is different from when I had my other two daughters when I was in my 20s and 30s. If you're in your 60s and you're with the kid every day, you're dealing with the mind of a child, so it opens up that childishness in you again.
Quote examples
RJ Cyler
American Actor
In life, my childish behavior is the good kind, not to where it's annoying and, 'Wow, someone sit him down and give him a bottle, give him a Pamper.' It's like, 'This situation is very heavy, but RJ is here, so he'll lighten things up a little.
Quote examples
John Steinbeck
American Author
These words dropped into my childish mind as if you should accidentally drop a ring into a deep well. I did not think of them much at the time, but there came a day in my life when the ring was fished up out of the well, good as new.
Quote examples
Zaza Pachulia
Georgian Baseball Player
Losing my dad made me more mature. Being an only child, I didn't have the right to act childish. I had to step up. I was earning money already in Turkey. I felt like I needed to protect the family and protect my mom and be a man.
Quote examples
Abraham Maslow
American Psychologist
Rioting is a childish way of trying to be a man, but it takes time to rise out of the hell of hatred and frustration and accept that to be a man you don't have to riot.
Quote examples
Richard Cohen
American Journalist
We grow up to respect the gray. Black or white, one or the other, is childish. It represents the worldview of someone who does not know the world.
Quote examples
Stellan Skarsgard
Swedish Actor
My preparation for roles are less about the character's profession than who they are, what their dreams are, and in what way are they childish.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Bishop
American Poet
What childishness is it that while there's breath of life in our bodies, we are determined to rush to see the sun the other way around?
Quote examples
Jeff Buckley
American Musician
The music business is the most childish business in the world. Nobody knows what they're selling or why, but they sell it if it works.
Quote examples
Julia Davis
English Comedian
I actually think I'm still quite childishly optimistic in a certain way, which is maybe why I find life quite shocking.
Quote examples
Martin Scorsese
American Director
Being a father at a later age is different from when I had my other two daughters when I was in my 20s and 30s. If you're in your 60s and you're with the kid every day, you're dealing with the mind of a child, so it opens up that childishness in you again.
Quote examples
RJ Cyler
American Actor
In life, my childish behavior is the good kind, not to where it's annoying and, 'Wow, someone sit him down and give him a bottle, give him a Pamper.' It's like, 'This situation is very heavy, but RJ is here, so he'll lighten things up a little.
Quote examples
John Steinbeck
American Author
These words dropped into my childish mind as if you should accidentally drop a ring into a deep well. I did not think of them much at the time, but there came a day in my life when the ring was fished up out of the well, good as new.
Quote examples
Zaza Pachulia
Georgian Baseball Player
Losing my dad made me more mature. Being an only child, I didn't have the right to act childish. I had to step up. I was earning money already in Turkey. I felt like I needed to protect the family and protect my mom and be a man.
Quote examples
Abraham Maslow
American Psychologist
Rioting is a childish way of trying to be a man, but it takes time to rise out of the hell of hatred and frustration and accept that to be a man you don't have to riot.
Quote examples
Richard Cohen
American Journalist
We grow up to respect the gray. Black or white, one or the other, is childish. It represents the worldview of someone who does not know the world.
Quote examples
Stellan Skarsgard
Swedish Actor
My preparation for roles are less about the character's profession than who they are, what their dreams are, and in what way are they childish.
Quote examples
Elizabeth Bishop
American Poet
What childishness is it that while there's breath of life in our bodies, we are determined to rush to see the sun the other way around?
Quote examples
Jeff Buckley
American Musician
The music business is the most childish business in the world. Nobody knows what they're selling or why, but they sell it if it works.
Quote examples
Julia Davis
English Comedian
I actually think I'm still quite childishly optimistic in a certain way, which is maybe why I find life quite shocking.
Example 1 of 10
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