endearing

adjective

en·​dear·​ing in-ˈdir-iŋ How to pronounce endearing (audio)
en-
: arousing feelings of affection or admiration
an endearing habit/quality
… the character he plays … is one of the most endearing on television …Frank Owen
endearingly adverb
an endearingly warmhearted person

Examples of endearing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Related Stories Hell of a Summer The Bottom Line A shaky but endearing debut. Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Sep. 2023 McMahon is a controversial figure to be sure, but there was something endearing about the fact that WWE could truly call itself a family-run business for all these years. Joe Otterson, Variety, 12 Sep. 2023 The neighborhood’s home to an endearing quilt of folks. Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2023 The Mongolian sojourn had an endearing strangeness: A delegation of Vatican cardinals and bishops found themselves in a lush valley for a local festival featuring wrestlers, feats of archery and throat singing. Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023 Their heads are especially endearing—a sloping mullet of feathers and a brow that gives them a perpetually studious expression. Jennie Rothenberg Gritz, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2023 Their cluelessness is endearing, with poignancy quietly surfacing as the outsiders respond to the serenity and gentle pace of the place and the rewards of pitching in on simple chores. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Sep. 2023 The supporting cast isn’t much more imaginative or endearing. Reid McCarter, WIRED, 22 Aug. 2023 While Joanne and Helen’s relationship drives the plot of Pugh’s eclectic yet endearing tale, at the heart of the film is the importance of female camaraderie. Shayeza Walid, Variety, 17 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'endearing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1766, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of endearing was in 1766

Dictionary Entries Near endearing

Cite this Entry

“Endearing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endearing. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

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