endearment

en·dear·ment | \ in-ˈdir-mənt

How to pronounce endearment (audio)

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Definition of endearment

1 : a word or an act (such as a caress) expressing affection

2 : the act or process of endearing

Examples of endearment in a Sentence

two lovers whispering endearments to each other

Recent Examples on the Web But more than 40 years later, Luke’s dismissive words have been adapted by Star Wars fans and filmmakers into a refrain of endearment. — Tim Grierson, Popular Mechanics, "How 'Star Wars' Filmmakers Built the Millennium Falcon," 20 Dec. 2019 My pitching coach was George Bamberger and [12-letter bleep] was a term of endearment. — BostonGlobe.com, "The language of baseball: Often crude, sometimes comical," 13 Oct. 2019 Krouch, who is Cambodian American, has embraced the nickname as a term of endearment, assimilating it as part of his culinary personality. — Los Angeles Times, "In Lakewood, our critic considers burnt cheese tacos and carne asada mac ’n’ cheese," 2 Oct. 2019 Glazed with love and endearment, Mai watched her record peak to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, all while earning platinum status. — Carl Lamarre, Billboard, "Mustard on Ella Mai's Potential as an Artist: 'I Think She's One of the Greatest'," 9 July 2018 Worship of military service has become an indispensable cog in every politician’s and corporation’s endearment strategy. — Adam Weinstein, The New Republic, "Most Veterans Say America’s Wars Are a Waste. No One’s Listening to Them.," 12 July 2019 Cardi B initially was charged with two misdemeanors of assault and reckless endearment, and surrendered to New York police in October, to be booked and then released. — Martha Ross, The Mercury News, "Cardi B’s legal peril grows: Rapper indicted on two felonies in connection with strip club brawl," 21 June 2019 Our opportunity—as citizens, employees, and leaders—is to embrace with gusto the once-in-a-century opportunity to renegotiate the terms of our endearment with our powerful new machines. — Paul Roehrig, Quartz, "The internet is broken. But we can’t just repair it—we need to rebuild it," 3 June 2019 Raised in a life of privilege on the Upper East Side across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Kennedy went to great lengths to live as any other New Yorker, much to the endearment of the city's denizens. — Glynnis Macnicol, Town & Country, "Who Was Carolyn Bessette Kennedy?," 3 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'endearment.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Endeavor River pear

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Last Updated

7 Jan 2020

Cite this Entry

“Endearment.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endearment. Accessed 19 January 2020.

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