quaintness

American  

[kwaynt-nis] / ˈkweɪnt nɪs /

noun

1. the quality of being quaint.

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Explanation

Quaintness is a quality of being sweetly old-fashioned and a little bit unusual. Although you find them a little creepy, you also appreciate the quaintness of the dolls in your grandma's collection. Think of a charming bed and breakfast decorated in a whimsical style — its quaintness is what's special about it, setting it apart from sleek, modern hotel rooms. There's often a touch of eccentricity in quaintness, like the curious quaintness of a neighbor whose house is lit with oil lamps and who wears a long, flowing cape. The original meaning of quaintness, "proudness or cunning," is obsolete.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

quaintness

“If we’re saying we will lose our quaintness because we have an address, I think that’s a false narrative,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2024

Some of the quaintness of the ride has been lost, of course, as commercialism took root along the route.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 24, 2023

Celebration promised a throwback quaintness, the way towns allegedly were.

From Salon ● May 2, 2023

So does “Poker Face,” in all its unapologetic quaintness.

From New York Times ● Jan. 25, 2023

This is what I have, coffee and pie, sitting in one of the purple booths, watching young people exclaim over what they think is the quaintness of the past.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

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