winsome

[win-suhm]

adjective

1. sweetly or innocently charming; winning; win; winning; engaging.

   a winsome smile.

winsome

/ ˈwɪnsəm /

adjective

1. charming; winning; engaging

   a winsome smile

Other Word Forms

• winsomely adverb
• winsomeness noun
• unwinsome adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of winsome¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English winsom, Old English wynsum, equivalent to wyn(n) “joy” ( wish ) + -sum -some ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of winsome¹

Old English wynsum, from wynn joy (related to Old High German wunnia, German Wonne ) + -sum _-some ¹

Example Sentences

“She keeps her hair blonde and has that same winsome smile that everyone remembers,” Kemp said.

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He takes care with place-setting, utilizing contemporary country tunes and a winsome lens on good old Americana.

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Eden is a complicated mix of independence — she runs her own seemingly thriving business — and winsome but deep-seated neediness.

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And, for contrast, we get Rodin’s winsome portrait of Claudel, the lowered gaze of her intensely alert but ethereal head emerging from a hefty block of chiseled white marble.

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The young actors are winsome but inexperienced, too often forced to wrangle improbably precocious turns of phrase.

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Related Words

• appealing 
• captivating 
• cute 
• delightful 
• engaging