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Glite Dictionary
disarmingly

disarmingly

2 6.0
In a way that puts people at ease
  • adverb
  • /dɪsˈɑrmɪŋli/
translation icon : desarmantemente
  • Their self-conceptions are disarmingly humble, self-effacing, even self-deprecating, sometimes bordering on confessions of incompetence.
  • disarmingly simple

That manager is hot and disarmingly attractive.

Examples

  • You don't suspect me, do you?" She smiled disarmingly.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • "Quite all right," he said, chuckling disarmingly.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • And Becker's account is disarmingly simple.

  • Freeing the bed turned out to be disarmingly easy, given the right set of keys.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • Lemon, for his part, disarmingly stated: "I don't care why it's happening, just that it is happening."

    Blog text (3)

  • In fact, she is disarmingly self-effacing and likable.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Casimir grinned disarmingly and waved them off.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Lennon smiled disarmingly.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • I couldn't resist this disarmingly cute little girl chanting the classic rhyme, complete with popsicle stick props.

    Blog text (8)

  • She smiled disarmingly, making everyone feel immediately at ease.

Synonyms

reassuringly
vsdisarmingly
6 3.5

In a way that makes someone feel less worried

reduces distrust and defensive feelings rather than easing general worry
benignly
vsdisarmingly
3 5.8

In a kind and gentle way that does no harm

makes people feel less suspicious by lowering guardedness rather than only being kind
benignantly
vsdisarmingly
9.9

Be kind and gentle to other people

lowers suspicion by making others feel less defensive rather than just kind

Antonyms

suspiciously
43 3.8

In a way that shows you do not trust someone

defensively
38 3.6

In a way that tries to protect someone from attack or criticism

How Disarming

disarmingly
2 6.0
charmingly
11 3.0
warmly
39 1.0
gently
372 1.0

Surface Forms

disarmingly positive

Morphology

disarmingly = disarming (transparent) = dis + arm + ing + ly

Formally derived by adding '-ly' to the adjective 'disarming'; 'disarming' itself is a figurative extension of 'disarm', so the base is slightly non-literal.

Etymology

Disarmingly comes from dis- meaning 'remove' and arm meaning 'weapon' or 'defence'. To disarm someone is to take away their weapons, and when we use it about behaviour it means to take away suspicion, so disarmingly describes a way of acting that makes people feel safe and less defensive.