Master confusing words with ease
Childish vs. Childlike
Childish
/ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/Examples:
Her tantrum over the broken toy was truly childish.He displayed childish enthusiasm for the amusement park trip.Debating over trivial matters felt quite childish to many.
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Antonyms:
Childlike
/ˈtʃaɪldlaɪk/Examples:
Her childlike curiosity was infectiousHe approached the new task with a childlike enthusiasmThe child's childlike laughter filled the room
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Childish often has a negative connotation, implying immaturity or behavior typical of a child.
- Childlike usually has a positive connotation, referring to qualities like innocence or wonder seen in children.
- To remember, think of childish as an -ish quality, which might seem superficial or negative in context.
- Childlike suggests a likeness to positive aspects of being a child, like purity.
- Consider the suffix -ish for childish as suggesting a lack or shortcoming, whereas -like in childlike implies admiration.
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