endear
in-DEER
/ɪnˈdɪər/
To cause someone or something to be loved or liked.
Almost always used reflexively ('endear oneself to') or in describing actions that win affection.
The story behind the word. Coined in the 1500s by combining 'en-' (to make or cause to be) with 'dear'. It literally means 'to cause someone to become held dear' in another person's eyes.
Word relationships
- ingratiate: Ingratiate carries a negative nuance of calculated, brown-nosing behavior, whereas endear is typically genuine and positive.
- charm: Charm means to delight through attractive qualities, while endear specifically creates lasting emotional liking.
- alienate: Alienate means to cause someone to feel hostile, detached, or unwelcome.
- estrange: Estrange means to cause affectionate ties to break down.
Commonly confused with
- endure: Endure means to withstand hardship, while endear means to make well-liked.
Word family
- endearing (adjective): Inspiring love or affection.
- endearingly (adverb): In an endearing or charming manner.
- endearment (noun): A word or act expressing affection.
Collocations
- endear oneself to
- endear to the public
- qualities that endear
Idioms & expressions
- win over hearts
Example sentences
- "Her humility and ready wit quickly endeared her to the entire office staff." Workplace integration
- "The candidate's genuine concern for local issues endeared him to working-class voters." Public diplomacy
Memory hook
To EN-DEAR yourself is to make someone hold you DEAR. Make yourself held dear by others.
When not to use
Do not use as a transitive verb meaning 'to love someone directly'; you endear yourself or an action endears you to someone.
Fun facts
- A 'term of endearment' (like 'honey' or 'sweetheart') is a universal linguistic feature across almost every human language.
Related words
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