childish

[ chahyl-dish ]
/ ˈtʃaɪl dɪʃ /

adjective

of, like, or befitting a child: childish games.
puerile; weak; silly: childish fears.

Origin of childish

before 1000; Middle English childisch, Old English cildisc. See child, -ish1

synonym study for childish

2. Childish, infantile, childlike refer to characteristics or qualities of childhood. The ending -ish often has unfavorable connotations; childish therefore refers to characteristics that are undesirable and unpleasant: childish selfishness, outbursts of temper. Infantile, originally a general word, now often carries an even stronger idea of disapproval or scorn than does childish : infantile reasoning, behavior. The ending -like has pleasing or neutral connotations; childlike therefore refers to the characteristics that are desirable and admirable: childlike innocence, trust.

OTHER WORDS FROM childish

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH childish

childish childlike (see synonym study at the current entry)

Example sentences from the Web for childishness

British Dictionary definitions for childishness

childish
/ (ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ) /

adjective

in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child
foolish or petty; puerile childish fears

Derived forms of childish

childishly, adverb childishness, noun