enchant

Definition of enchantnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word enchant different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of enchant are allure, attract, captivate, charm, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Where would allure be a reasonable alternative to enchant?

The synonyms allure and enchant are sometimes interchangeable, but allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When is attract a more appropriate choice than enchant?

The meanings of attract and enchant largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

How do charm and captivate relate to one another, in the sense of enchant?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

In what contexts can fascinate take the place of enchant?

The words fascinate and enchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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 enchant Coperni’s timing proved, well, enchanted. Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025 Not so long ago, humans believed that everything was enchanted. Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 24 Dec. 2025 For two South Londoners, Yawning Portal are oddly enchanted by the American Midwest. Billie Bugara, Pitchfork, 19 Dec. 2025 Brownell recalls being enchanted by the electric chemistry between Thompson and Ha when shooting the heart-fluttering sequence. Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enchant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant
Verb
  • But commenters were also fascinated by a series of colorful graphs plotting dose-response curves for individual types of exercise, purporting to show that walking is the best, jogging is good but not too much, swimming is no good at all, and so on.
    Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Though the Durutti Column had been a disaster, Wilson was fascinated by the guitarist, who admired punk’s willfulness even though his own musical taste tended toward jazz, blues, and the classical tradition.
    Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Again, the intention behind his decision to flip the puck deep and go for a change was impeccable, but there was another option there that might have allowed the Canadiens to possess the puck a bit longer.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026
  • And doing so requires the resources, technology and expertise that many institutions do not possess.
    ABC News, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The clip has charmed people online because of how intentional the whole thing feels.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 28 Jan. 2026
  • The commissioners were charmed, but the real win was when a representative of a local homeowners’ association invited the students to attend their next meeting to discuss the project.
    Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • After more than a decade of success, the 2000s saw a recession that some thought might spell the end of the space sim genre.
    Alan Bradley, Space.com, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Lightfoot performed well when rushing the passer when spelling Bain and Mesidor.
    Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • An Associated Press investigation found that unwitting Bangladeshi workers were enticed to Russia under the false promise of civilian work before being thrown into combat in Ukraine.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 28 Jan. 2026
  • By promoting the procedure as not just a facelift add-on, but an alternative to lip filler, surgeons broadened its appeal, enticing younger generations who were growing tired of injections—the artificial aesthetic, the migration, the maintenance.
    Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • With a sprinkle of '80s nonsensical wit, Splash is an easy-breezy watch that finds its place in the sun by being ridiculously campy while grounding itself in earnestness, thanks to Hanks and Hannah's bewitching lead performances.
    James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 20 Jan. 2026
  • Arteta is bewitched by his countryman’s talent and just wants more of it to come to the fore.
    Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 27 Jan. 2026
  • However, epicureans will be delighted with the resort hotel's culinary options, including a restaurant helmed by superstar chef Eric Ripert.
    Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Since the dawn of time, the romance of railways has seduced poets, spellbound novelists, and dealt directors the perfect hand for capturing fleeting friendships, illicit affairs, and all manner of crimes and capers.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Jan. 2026
  • In this version of the classic tale, Peter is Wendy's father, and James, the book’s Captain Hook, plans to seduce her to get back at his nemesis.
    Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 26 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enchant. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

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