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childishness

 - 2 dictionary results

child⋅ish

  [chahyl-dish]
–adjective
1. of, like, or befitting a child: childish games.
2. puerile; weak; silly: childish fears.
Use childishness in a Sentence
Origin:
bef. 1000; ME childisch, OE cildisc. See child, -ish 1

Related forms:
child⋅ish⋅ly, adverb
child⋅ish⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
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.

Antonyms:
mature, adult.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To childishness
child·ish   (chīl'dĭsh)   
adj.  

  1. Of, relating to, or suitable for a child or childhood: a high, childish voice; childish nightmares.

    1. Marked by or indicating a lack of maturity; puerile: tired of your childish pranks.

    2. Not complicated; simple.

    3. Affected mentally by old age; senile.

child'ish·ly adv., child'ish·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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