winsome
adjective
win·some
ˈwin(t)-səm 
1
: generally pleasing and engaging often because of a childlike charm and innocence
a winsome smile
2
winsomely
adverb
winsomeness
noun
Did you know?
Winsome comes from Old English wynn, meaning "joy" or "pleasure," which was altered in spelling to win (with the same meaning). That win is obsolete and is unrelated to today's win—referring to victory and coming from Old English winnan, "to struggle, suffer, or acquire." The adjective winning, meaning "tending to please or delight," as in "a winning smile" or "winning ways," is believed to be from the victorious win.
Synonyms
Examples of winsome in a Sentence
He had a winsome, boyish smile.
she was a bright, winsome gamine who could draw a smile out of anyone
Recent Examples on the Web
Few words are more synonymous with Disney movies than wish, and taking that word and turning it into a story in which a winsome young heroine is partnered with a literal wishing star to stop a power-mad leader seems like a gimme.
—
Josh Spiegel, Vulture, 24 July 2024
Among the family’s myriad winsome qualities is their sometimes laborious dedication to family tradition, with no occasion too small to merit its own generations-spanning ritual.
—Nico Lang, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2024
Olsen vests Christina with the winsome energy of a hummingbird—vibrating with all her might is what holds her together.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024
Its first six-episode arc (of a twelve-episode season) largely separates the core four, losing much of the winsome rapport that defined 2023’s Mutant Mayhem.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for winsome 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Josh Spiegel, Vulture, 24 July 2024
Among the family’s myriad winsome qualities is their sometimes laborious dedication to family tradition, with no occasion too small to merit its own generations-spanning ritual.
—Nico Lang, Rolling Stone, 14 Oct. 2024
Olsen vests Christina with the winsome energy of a hummingbird—vibrating with all her might is what holds her together.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Sep. 2024
Its first six-episode arc (of a twelve-episode season) largely separates the core four, losing much of the winsome rapport that defined 2023’s Mutant Mayhem.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for winsome
Articles Related to winsome
Dictionary Entries Near winsome
Cite this Entry
“Winsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winsome. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
winsome
adjective
win·some
ˈwin(t)-səm
1
: having a charming or pleasing quality
a winsome smile
2
: cheerful sense 1a
a winsome mood
winsomely
adverb
winsomeness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share