Meaning & use
winsome
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Meaning
adjectivecomparableliterary
Charming in a fresh, gentle and innocent way that makes people like you.
Grammar: Goes before a noun or after be: a winsome smile, She was winsome.
Patterns
- a winsome smile
- a winsome manner
The child gave the visitors a winsome smile.
Her winsome manner made her popular with the whole class.
The puppy had a winsome way of tilting its head.
Word forms
| comparative | more winsome |
|---|---|
| superlative | most winsome |
Common combinations
- winsome smile
- His winsome smile won over the crowd.
- winsome manner
- She had a winsome manner that put patients at ease.
- winsome charm
- The film relies on the winsome charm of its young star.
- winsome personality
- A winsome personality can open doors.
Synonyms and how they differ
- charming
- Charming is the everyday word and covers any pleasing quality, while winsome adds a sense of simple, innocent sweetness.
- engaging
- Engaging describes someone who holds your interest, whereas winsome is about being lovable at first sight.
- endearing
- Endearing is about qualities that make you fond of someone, and it often includes small flaws, but winsome is more purely attractive.
Opposites
Word family
- winsomely adverb
- in a charming, innocent way
- winsomeness noun
- the quality of being winsome
- win verb
- the old root, meaning to gain the favor of
Commonly confused: winsome or wholesome? winsome or winning?
winsome vs wholesome
Wholesome means good for your health or morals; winsome means charming, though both can describe a pleasant, innocent person.
winsome vs winning
Winning can also mean charming, as in a winning smile, and is the plainer and more common choice.
Practice
Which person would you most naturally describe as winsome?
Choose one answer.
Winsome describes innocent, appealing charm, which fits the toddler. The other descriptions do not suggest charm.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “winsome”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.