enchant

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 However, Labyrinth has since become a beloved cult favorite, continuing to enchant and delight viewers. Logan Karlie september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025 Then the picture begins to blur before coming back into clear focus to reveal Novak, still enchanting at 92, standing in a room filled with her paintings. Jeremy Helligar, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025 Experts warn against becoming enchanted with the latest flashy tool. Carolyn Said, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025 The northern lights have enchanted people for millennia, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories are both fantastic places to see it, thanks to their sparse populations, low levels of light pollution, and northerly locations. Lola Augustine Brown, AFAR Media, 21 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enchant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant
Verb
  • Europe, with its rich past, had fascinated many of its colonial subjects.
    Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
  • David Martill, professor emeritus at the Institute of the Earth and Environment at the University of Portsmouth, was fascinated by the study and UV images.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This partnership is also emblematic of a broader industry trend toward revitalizing mid-tier and smaller American shipyards, which possess the agility to adapt to new types of naval platforms.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Teams have caught up on Mike McDaniel’s playcalling In the first two seasons of Dolphins coach McDaniel’s tenure as head coach the Dolphins possessed one of the NFL’s most dynamic offenses.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is the perfect time to update your social platforms, start a podcast or simply charm people with your charming storytelling.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Each is nevertheless charmed by the other, forming a relationship that’s portrayed a bit like an illicit affair.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • That's the highest of this term and could spell potential trouble at the ballot box in next year's midterm elections, particularly with prices of many goods still high.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 30 Sep. 2025
  • With surreal flourishes and bursts of absurdity, filmmaker Milagros Mumenthaler casts a beguiling, dreamlike spell that delicately examines motherhood, class and identity.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The possibilities are enticing because of how both Mara and Johnson grade out defensively.
    CJ Moore, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The 6-foot-4, 260-pound outside linebacker has a draft pedigree that could entice other squads.
    Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Every aspect of this filmmaking recalls the bewitching experience of encountering the supernatural.
    Daniel Noah, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Pork King Good Pumpkin Pie Pork Rinds – Salty, crunchy, cinnamon-y… and utterly bewitching.
    Lanee Lee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The interaction delighted Kate's followers, who commented on his presence and received a wave from off-camera.
    Carson Blackwelder, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Here are some of the less invasive procedures seducing Hollywood, as well as some of their most sought-after practitioners.
    Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Janet and Brad are put in separate rooms and both are seduced in the night by a shape-shifting Frank – in Janet's case, losing her virginity.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enchant. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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