Disarming

/dɪsˈɑrmɪŋ/ adjective

Definition

Charming or attractive in a way that makes you drop your defenses or suspicions about someone.

Etymology

From Middle English 'disarmen,' combining the prefix 'dis-' (remove) with 'arm,' originally meaning to remove weapons literally, but evolved to mean removing emotional barriers.

Kelly Says

The metaphor brilliantly captures why certain smiles work on us—a genuinely disarming person weaponlessly disarms us emotionally just as thoroughly as removing actual weapons.

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