endearing

[en-deer-ing]

See more synonyms for endearing on Thesaurus.com

adjective

tending to make dear or beloved.
manifesting or evoking affection: an endearing smile.

Origin of endearing

First recorded in 1615–25; endear + -ing²

Related formsen·dear·ing·ly, adverbself-en·dear·ing, adjectiveun·en·dear·ing, adjectiveun·en·dear·ing·ly, adverb

endear

[en-deer]

verb (used with object)

to make dear, esteemed, or beloved: He endeared himself to his friends with his gentle ways.
Obsolete. to make costly.

Origin of endear

First recorded in 1570–80; en-¹ + dear¹

Related formsun·en·deared, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for endearing

Contemporary Examples

When a candidates flaws are seen as an endearing part of who they are, scandal can make them more attractive, Gergen argued.
Vote for the (Alleged) Crooks! How Rick Perry, Chris Christie, and Scott Walker are Running While Under Investigation
Olivia Nuzzi
August 29, 2014
This thinking can seem innocent and endearing in children; if you will it, it will be.
Why Smart People Are Dumb Patients
Jean Kim
July 14, 2014
Of course, it did take the candidate five takes to get that endearing take.
CNN ’60s Series Looks at How the Kennedy-Nixon Debate Changed TV
Scott Porch
May 29, 2014
That is fascinating, scary, sad, endearing—all of the above.
How ‘Transcendence’ Director Wally Pfister Became Christopher Nolan’s Secret Weapon
Andrew Romano
April 17, 2014
His reputation at NBC was less than endearing, according to a former colleague from that network.
Privilege and Power: The Rise and Rise of Ben Sherwood
Lloyd Grove
March 26, 2014

Historical Examples

To be familiar and endearing with them all—and so make me mad with envying them.
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
Nor is it, as has been too often supposed, a cheerless life of toil and fatigue, but has many substantial and endearing charms.
Address delivered by Hon. Henry H. Crapo, Governor of Michigan, before the Central Michigan Agricultural Society, at their Sheep-shearing Exhibition held at the Agricultural College Farm, on Thursday, May 24th, 1866
Henry Howland Crapo
Lydia caught at the endearing word, and something like a spasm moved her face.
The Prisoner
Alice Brown
The endearing term came for the first time from the man's lips.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science, October, 1930
Various
This is the most endearing word that one human being can use to another.
George Bowring - A Tale Of Cader Idris
R. D. Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for endearing

endearing

adjective

giving rise to love or esteem; charming

Derived Formsendearingly, adverb

endear

verb

(tr) to cause to be beloved or esteemed

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for endearing

adj.

1660s, present participle adjective from endear. Related: Endearingly.

endear

v.

1580s, "to enhance the value of," also "win the affection of," from en- (1) "make, put in" + dear (adj.). Meaning "to make dear" is from 1640s. Related: Endeared; endearing.

endearing

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}endearing

endear

Origin of endear

Related Words

Examples from the Web for endearing

Contemporary Examples

When a candidates flaws are seen as an endearing part of who they are, scandal can make them more attractive, Gergen argued.

This thinking can seem innocent and endearing in children; if you will it, it will be.

Of course, it did take the candidate five takes to get that endearing take.

That is fascinating, scary, sad, endearing—all of the above.

His reputation at NBC was less than endearing, according to a former colleague from that network.

Historical Examples

To be familiar and endearing with them all—and so make me mad with envying them.

Nor is it, as has been too often supposed, a cheerless life of toil and fatigue, but has many substantial and endearing charms.

Lydia caught at the endearing word, and something like a spasm moved her face.

The endearing term came for the first time from the man's lips.

This is the most endearing word that one human being can use to another.

endearing

endear

Word Origin and History for endearing

adj.

endear

v.

Origin of endearing