Kidlike
adj.joyful, hopefulplayful
What it means
Showing a child's appealing curiosity, openness, or delight.
Reach for it when praising youthful wonder without suggesting immaturity
Her kidlike excitement made the first snowfall feel new to everyone.
Choose between these
6- everyday
lighthearted fun is the specific quality
not when Playful does not carry kidlike openness or innocence.
- everyday
energy and freshness matter most
not when Youthful may refer to appearance rather than attitude.
- warm
childlike
innocence or wonder deserves gentle praise
not when Childlike should not excuse poor judgment.
- professional
eagerness to discover is what helps
not when Curious is age-neutral and loses the youthful warmth.
- formal
freedom from cynicism is central
not when Innocent can make an adult sound unaware of ordinary realities.
- literary
fresh wonder is visible in a response
not when Wide-eyed may imply naivety where competence matters.
Said against
3- jaded
- cynical
- solemn
It naturally appears in
3- kidlike wonder
He greeted the migrating cranes with kidlike wonder.
- kidlike delight
Kidlike delight spread across her face when the tiny train moved.
- kidlike curiosity
Their kidlike curiosity turned the tide pool into an afternoon of discovery.
Where this comes from
Kidlike is not a headword in the dictionaries below. The sense was checked against their entries for kid, and the definition and example here are written for Kidlike itself.
- wiktionary, the entry for kid, English adjective sense: resembling a child positively opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.