winsome
UK /ˈwɪnsəm/ US /ˈwɪnsəm/ Syllables: win-some
Quick answer
Attractive or appealing in a simple, innocent, and charming way.
Winsome describes a person, smile or manner that is charming in a simple, open and often innocent way. It is a warm word of praise. A winsome child, a winsome smile and a winsome grin win people over without trying hard. The word does not suggest cleverness or glamour, only a pleasing, friendly quality. Close words are charming, engaging, endearing, appealing and sweet. The opposite is off-putting or unappealing. Winsome is old-fashioned and literary, so you will meet it in stories and reviews more than in everyday talk. The adverb is winsomely and the noun is winsomeness.
"The puppy's winsome expression made it impossible to say no."Example sentences
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"She gave the crowd a winsome smile."
Level C1
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"The winsome puppy won over the whole family."
Level C1
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"He had a winsome way of asking for help."
Level C1
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"The novel's winsome heroine is hard to dislike."
Level C1
Synonyms and antonyms
Synonyms
Look-alikes and common mistakes
- winning : Winning also means attractive, as in a winning smile. Winsome is more old-fashioned and suggests innocence.
- wistful : Wistful means sadly longing. It looks a little like winsome but means something else.
- wholesome : Wholesome means good for your health or your morals. Winsome means charming.
- handsome : Handsome describes a good-looking face or build. Winsome is about charm, not looks.
Word family and forms
Forms: winsomer, winsomest
Word partners
Words and phrases that often go with "winsome".
- a winsome smile
- a winsome child
- winsome charm
- a winsome manner
- winsome grin
- winsome personality
Origin
Winsome comes from Old English wynsum, which meant joyful or pleasant. It is built from an old word for joy, wynn, plus the ending some. English had the word before the year 900.
Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.
How to remember it
A winsome person wins you over. Hear the win in winsome, and remember that the charm is gentle, not showy.
Test yourself
Which word fits the gap? "She gave the crowd a _____ smile."
Answer: winsome
In your own words, what does "winsome" mean?
Attractive or appealing in a simple, innocent, and charming way.
Learn next at C1
- wistful Feeling or showing a quiet sadness, often mixed with longing for somet...
- wrath Extreme anger, especially of a powerful or dramatic kind.
- yoke A wooden bar used to join two animals together so they can pull a plow...
- yoke To join two things or people closely together, often in a way that lim...
Sources and credits
- Wiktionary, the free dictionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) · used for the origin, meanings, pronunciation · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Dictionary.com · used for the origin, meanings, word family · checked Nov 2, 2026
- Cambridge Dictionary · used for the meanings, pronunciation · checked Nov 2, 2026
Last reviewed November 2, 2026. Report a mistake on this page