Endearing
What it means
Inspiring affection through a lovable or warmly appealing quality.
Reach for it when praising a small trait that makes someone or something easy to love
The robot's endearing pause before each answer delighted the children.
Words to choose between 6
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday | |
| warm | |
| professional | |
| literary |
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playful
Fits when cuteness invites open affection
Careful Adorable infantilizes people and is wrong for dignified character praise.
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everyday
Fits when pleasant appeal and social grace are central
Careful Charm may impress without creating genuine fondness.
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warm
Fits when the whole person or creature inspires affection
Careful Lovable judges the whole person or creature; one trait can simply be endearing.
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warm
Fits when gentle innocence or kindness suits informal praise
Careful Applied to an adult's serious work, sweet can come across as patronizing.
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professional
appealing
Fits when a neutral positive response is sufficient
Careful Appealing is cooler and may concern usefulness rather than affection.
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literary
Fits when innocent, gentle charm deserves an uncommon word
Careful Winsome can feel quaint and emphasizes appearance or manner.
Opposites 4
- off-putting
- repellent
- irritating
- unlovable
Common phrases 3
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endearing quality
Her endearing quality is a willingness to laugh at her own first draft.
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endearing smile
The actor's endearing smile softened the character's stern entrance.
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particularly endearing
The handwritten labels were particularly endearing to longtime visitors.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Baymiwuk, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated