US /ˈwɪn.səm/ UK /ˈwɪn.səm/
adj Freq #61546

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    sweetly or innocently charming in appearance, manner, or expression

    Her winsome smile quickly put the nervous children at ease.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · sweetly or innocently... charmingengagingwinningendearing
Opposites
repellentunappealing
Word family
Derived forms winsomelywinsomeness
Related forms wincharmingratiating

Etymology

Inherited from Old English wynsum, 'pleasant, delightful, joyful,' from wynn, 'joy or pleasure,' + -sum, the ancestor of modern -some. Its older sense of giving joy developed into the modern idea of innocent, engaging charm.

Topics

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