Skip to main content
puppylike

puppylike

2.8
Acting playful and innocent like a young dog
  • adjective
  • /ˈpʌpiˌlaɪk/
translation icon : como un cachorro
  • The puppy's puppylike antics brought joy to everyone in the park.

Examples

  • Her puppylike enthusiasm made the party livelier and more fun.

  • Someone's got to rid you of this habit of puppylike trust.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • This selection for submission presumably led to other puppylike behavioral traits.

    Academic text (1997)
  • The force of his enthusiasm—he could talk people into anything, and they would follow him around with puppylike loyalty—held them for a while.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • The kitten displayed a puppylike curiosity as it explored its new home.

Synonyms

childlike
vspuppylike
36 3.7

Being innocent, trusting, and simple like a child

is similar but presents these traits as young animal behaviour
babyish
vspuppylike
3 3.0

Acting or speaking like a baby and seeming childish

is about playful, innocent behaviour rather than childish immaturity
kittenish
vspuppylike
1 7.3

Having a playful and slightly flirty way

is similar in play but lacks the teasing or flirtatious tone
puppyish
vspuppylike
1 4.2

Acting playful and eager, like a young dog

is the more common everyday form used for this same sense
kidlike
vspuppylike
2.9

Having the innocent, playful curiosity of a child

focuses on similar traits but from a young animal perspective
babylike
vspuppylike
3.1

Having the looks, voice, or behavior of a baby

is more about playful energy than delicate appearance or looks
babelike
vspuppylike
8.7

Showing simple trust and the innocent look of a baby

is more about lively playfulness than neediness or dependence
boylike
vspuppylike
4.8

Having the playful, lively, and innocent ways of a boy

frames similar innocence as animal playful behaviour rather than human youth
kiddish
vspuppylike
  • Archaic
7.5

Acting like a child in a simple, not serious way

is more positive, focusing on playful innocence rather than immaturity

Antonyms

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

199 3.3

Behaving like an adult and thinking sensibly

How Playful

boisterous
18 4.7
playful
79 1.6
frisky
33 3.2
puppylike
2.8
calm
735 1.0
reserved
3.7

Surface Forms

puppylike positive

Morphology

puppylike = puppy (transparent) = puppy + like

The adjective is a regular formation from 'puppy' with the productive suffix '-like' meaning 'resembling or having qualities of a puppy'.

Etymology

Puppylike comes from puppy meaning 'a young dog' and the ending -like meaning 'similar to'. Think of big eyes, a wagging tail and eager play; that's why puppylike describes someone who is playful, innocent or full of hopeful energy.