endearing

[en-deer-ing]

adjective

1. tending to make dear or beloved.

2. manifesting or evoking affection.

   an endearing smile.

Other Word Forms

• endearingly adverb
• self-endearing adjective
• unendearing adjective
• unendearingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of endearing¹

First recorded in 1615–25; endear + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Some Los Angeles residents find the bots cute and endearing.

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The filmmakers’ presence gives Jackie an excuse to spend an ample portion of time directly addressing the audience, never the most theatrically compelling device, even as practiced by an actor as endearing as Ms. Chenoweth.

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Standing 5 feet 10 with open, friendly features, the Norwegian talent has a grin that makes her appear at once like an endearing everywoman and a large, unpredictable child.

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One of the most endearing aspects of the destination was that several of the mazes took residence in the permanent structures that composed the medieval-inspired village of the Koroneburg Renaissance Festival on the park’s grounds.

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But naturally the actors are not portraying them in the guise of the movie’s endearing dolts.

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Related Words

• captivating 
• charming