endearing

1 of 2

adjective

en·​dear·​ing in-ˈdir-iŋ 

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

in-ˈdir-iŋ-lē 

en-

adverb

an endearingly warmhearted person

endearing

2 of 2

present participle of endear

Synonyms of endearing

Adjective

• adorable
• dear
• sweet

Examples of endearing in a Sentence

Adjective

you have to wonder about people who don't find kittens and puppies endearing

his impish sense of humor is one of his more endearing traits

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Elizabeth Strout illustrates a kind man with an endearing earnestness about him who struggles with the fact that the world is not so simple anymore. — Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Dion had retained her natural charm, her smile, her sense of humor, and that incredibly endearing quality that is uniquely hers. — Blanche Marcel, Vanity Fair, 20 Sep. 2026

Started in 2019, FuelFest is a traveling exhibition that’s proving as endearing and enduring as its cinematic inspiration. — Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2026

Cruz also makes a brief but endearing appearance as the Happy Medium, named with a pun for her optimism and gift of second sight. — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1766, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for endearing

• adhering
• appearing
• careering
• cohering
• inhering
• prehearing
• rehearing
• veneering
• bioengineering
• cheering
• clearing
• earing