childishly

IPA/ˈtʃaɪldɪʃli/
IPA/ˈtʃaɪldɪʃli/

childishly — adverb

1. behaving or speaking like a young child, particularly when an adult's actions se

1.adverbB2
Definition

behaving or speaking like a young child, particularly when an adult's actions seem immature, impatient, or driven by unreasonable emotion

Example

Christopher childishly refused to share the remote with his roommate and pouted for an hour.

collocation: childishly refuse [to do something]

Tariro laughed childishly at the silly sound the rubber duck made in the bath.

adverb describing innocent, childlike amusement

Common collocations
  • childishly refuse
  • childishly complain
  • childishly react
  • childishly demand
  • behave childishly
Synonyms
  • immaturely

    more direct synonym; focuses on the lack of emotional maturity

  • petulantly

    stronger negative connotation; implies sulky, bad-tempered behavior

  • poutingly

    more specific; describes someone showing displeasure through facial expression

Antonyms
  • maturely

    showing adult judgment and self-control

  • sensibly

    acting with practical wisdom and reason

Grammar Patterns

childishly + verb (usually before the verb it modifies)

Usage Note

Frequently carries a critical or disapproving tone when describing an adult's behavior. For purely neutral or positive childlike behavior (curiosity, playfulness, innocence), adverbs such as 'innocently' or 'playfully' are more appropriate.

Common Mistakes

She childishly believed everyone was honest.' (when meaning innocent/naive)
She naively believed everyone was honest.
'childishly' adds a critical tone; use 'naively' or 'innocently' for a neutral description.
He childishly explored the forest with wonder.' (positive childlike curiosity)
He explored the forest with childlike wonder.
'childlike' has a positive connotation; 'childishly' usually implies disapproval.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

These three adverbs overlap with 'childishly' but each shades the meaning differently. 'Immaturely' is the closest synonym—it describes a general lack of emotional or social maturity without specifying the tone of the behavior. 'Petulantly' adds a sharper edge: it implies sulky, irritable, almost spoiled behavior, usually in response to not getting one's way. 'Poutingly' is more specific and visual—someone who pouts is expressing displeasure through their facial expression, often silently. In practice, 'childishly' is broader than all three: a person can behave childishly by laughing at silly things (innocent) or by refusing to compromise (irritating). The other words only fit the negative end of that spectrum. For example: 'He childishly giggled at the cartoon' would sound odd with 'petulantly' or 'poutingly.' Choosing the right adverb depends on whether you want to criticize the person or simply describe youthful behavior.

immaturely ↗petulantlypoutingly

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • rather childishly
  • so childishly
  • somewhat childishly

Phrases

  • behave childishly
  • act childishly
  • react childishly

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishModern English

Formed from the adjective 'childish' (Old English 'cildisc', meaning 'of or relating to a child') plus the adverbial suffix '-ly'. The negative or critical connotation—applied to adults who act immaturely—emerged in early modern English and has been the dominant use since the 18th century.