attraction

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun attraction differ from other similar words?

The words affinity and sympathy are common synonyms of attraction. While all three words mean "the relationship existing between things or persons that are naturally or involuntarily drawn together," attraction implies the possession by one thing of a quality that pulls another to it.

felt an attraction to danger

When is affinity a more appropriate choice than attraction?

While the synonyms affinity and attraction are close in meaning, affinity implies a susceptibility or predisposition on the part of the one drawn.

an affinity for mathematics

When might sympathy be a better fit than attraction?

The meanings of sympathy and attraction largely overlap; however, sympathy implies a reciprocal or natural relation between two things that are both susceptible to the same influence.

two minds in sympathy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of attraction Another attraction for El Salvador is favorable duty rates, since the nation has not been a target for the Trump administration’s widespread reciprocal tariffs. Sj Studio, Sourcing Journal, 11 July 2025 The real attraction for lounge lovers is the Turkish Airlines flagship facility at the sprawling new Istanbul Airport (IST), which fully opened in 2019. AFAR Media, 10 July 2025 The main attraction is an immersive closet that has an assortment of styles from Bloomingdale’s that were inspired by May’s designs in the film. Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 10 July 2025 Washing dishes and cleaning your sink will remove possible attractions for pests and breeding grounds for mold or other smells that gather in a damp sink. Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for attraction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attraction
magnet
Noun
  • Historically one of high society’s favorite gathering spots going back to the Gilded Age, this idyllic point is a magnet for anyone looking for highbrow hobnobbing.
    Gretta Monahan, Boston Herald, 12 July 2025
  • Strangely, however, ICE went looking for those hardened criminals at Home Depots and car washes, not known as magnets for cartels but rather for hardworking people trying to provide for families.
    Jim Newton, Mercury News, 12 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attraction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attraction. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on attraction

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