1
as in cheerful
having or showing a good mood or disposition
she was a bright, winsome gamine who could draw a smile out of anyone
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in charming
likely or intended to win one's affection
in her new role, the actress again displays the winsome charm that has made her an audience favorite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved
an actress who specialized in playing winsome ingenues in romantic comedies
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of winsome
Both books are surprising, soulful, quick reads, starring winsome characters.
—
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Gustav finds a replacement actress, an American (she’s played, with winsome gravitas, by Elle Fanning), and moves forward with his project—but not really.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Cleverbot veers from sounding like a winsome waif to coming across as a drunk, smart-alecky fifteen-year-old who talks in non sequiturs.
—Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Olsen plays Joan’s indecision with winsome fluster, at first breathy and trembling but eventually finding her resolve.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for winsome
Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
Gustav finds a replacement actress, an American (she’s played, with winsome gravitas, by Elle Fanning), and moves forward with his project—but not really.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 7 Nov. 2025
Cleverbot veers from sounding like a winsome waif to coming across as a drunk, smart-alecky fifteen-year-old who talks in non sequiturs.
—Patricia Marx, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Olsen plays Joan’s indecision with winsome fluster, at first breathy and trembling but eventually finding her resolve.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for winsome
Recent Examples of Synonyms for winsome
Adjective
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Despite having her arms almost permanently crossed and a scowl on her face, Ivy eventually starts to warm up, especially to her cheerful, horny-as-a-chihuahua cabin-mate Ella (Ruby Stokes, recently seen in Bridgerton and The Burning Girls).—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
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Even the cheerful, bright yellow winter aconite (Eranthus hyemalis) that have crept out into the lawn have popped open a few of their cheerful yellow blooms just a few inches above the frozen soil.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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From the charming streets of Valldemossa to the breathtaking beaches around Cala Mesquida, nowhere is further than an hour’s drive from the property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
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Dark, moody walls make the natural-wood bench and light floors stand out; a charming white dome pendant light ties the space together.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Below, find ten festive and adorable spring items to brighten up your Southern home in the coming months.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
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In Australia, her favorite has been the wombat, the adorable, mostly nocturnal marsupial.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Keep your flowers in a location that is bright but avoid direct sunlight, and keep them away from drafts, or entryways where large temperature fluctuations are likely.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
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Instead of blasting its outer layers into space in a bright explosion, its inner core appears to have collapsed inward completely, forming a black hole directly.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The union of these two worlds has created a unique garden that revisits this culture and these ancestral Japanese customs with the flowers so dear to Monsieur Dior.—
Kelly Wetherille,
Footwear News,
18 Feb. 2026
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In a ruse that, for lack of a more astute reference point here, feels very Don Draper-coded, Rose poses as the dear male soldier who died next to her in battle, figuring why waste the deeds to perfectly decent land, or his name.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Timeless wood pieces, plush armchairs and headboards, and earthy yet optimistic color palettes (think ivory, spring green, tawny brown, and bronze) are both serene and cozy, without feeling dusty or overly trendy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Feb. 2026
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But many believers and UAP disclosure proponents remain optimistic.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Dishes like an onion tart with anchovies emphasize that the best parts of love don’t always smell so sweet.—
Julian Torres,
CNN Money,
14 Feb. 2026
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Just like viewers were drawn to Girard's bubbly, sweet and genuine personality, so was Jung.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Her elegant collaboration was a reminder that the world has long created the kinds of crises that threaten our stability today, and a good artist finds a way to make work that shows us a way through it, even if the answer is as simple as making something beautiful.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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Prepare for the muse to arrive in strange and beautiful ways during Pisces season.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Winsome.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/winsome. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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