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 That win is obsolete and is unrelated to today's win—referring to victory and coming from Old English winnan, "to struggle, suffer, or acquire."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.
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
All three movies are packed with dinosaurs—dinosaurs running, dinosaurs being sad and winsome, dinosaurs showing ruthless disregard for human life.
—
Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 June 2025
Among the returning favorites is Reece Weaver, a winsome rookie candidate who became a main character in Season 1.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 4 June 2025
For two decades, Kweller has been a reliable purveyor of warm, winsome rock songs, located somewhere at the cross-section of Weezer and Wilco.
—Jayson Greene, Vulture, 30 May 2025
By stuffing it deep inside a giant budget package, politicians are counting on us not noticing that just beneath their winsome title and talking points is yet another giveaway to the wealthy and another gutting of our public institutions.
—Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for winsome
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Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 30 June 2025
Among the returning favorites is Reece Weaver, a winsome rookie candidate who became a main character in Season 1.
—Angelique Jackson, Variety, 4 June 2025
For two decades, Kweller has been a reliable purveyor of warm, winsome rock songs, located somewhere at the cross-section of Weezer and Wilco.
—Jayson Greene, Vulture, 30 May 2025
By stuffing it deep inside a giant budget package, politicians are counting on us not noticing that just beneath their winsome title and talking points is yet another giveaway to the wealthy and another gutting of our public institutions.
—Kevin Sabet, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for winsome
Cite this Entry
“Winsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/winsome. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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
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