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 She’s still enchanted by the history surrounding the building and the smell of the timber wood staircases. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025 Dazzled by his older brother’s newfound status as a media sensation, Sheen decided to try acting, too, and was immediately enchanted by the cinematic qualities of being a celebrity. Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 20 Sep. 2025 But to truly understand what enchanted the Fitzgeralds—and continues to allure visitors—go beyond the hotel and explore Antibes. Jeryl Brunner, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 The Taylor and Travis corn maze will open on Saturday and folks at Johnson Farms hope the visitors will be enchanted. Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enchant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant
Verb
  • And this character fascinated me, this person in an environment that has so much to offer but who’s so fragile inside.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Levitation has fascinated both entertainers and scientists for centuries.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Lewis was not allowed to possess guns due to two felony convictions, for assault in 2021 and false imprisonment earlier this year.
    Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Because of this, ice bunkers were generally only utilized by social elites such as the royals, who possessed the necessary technological know-how and labor force.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • First stop is the Skiatook Municipal Courthouse, where Wendell charms an exhausted clerk into finding him an atlas from before 1950.
    Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Scott was completing a yearlong master’s program in mathematics, and Noone, a doctoral candidate five years his senior, was charmed by the contrast between his good looks and his diffidence.
    Eren Orbey, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This Dallas defense, however, could spell opportunity for this Panthers offense.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Fox59 reporter Russ McQuaid's last name was originally spelled wrong.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 12 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • His success in Triple-A this year could entice a team to take a chance on him.
    Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
  • And, that, my friends, will be the cause of much celebration if he could ever be enticed to perform at, say, the National Theatre, the Royal Court or the Almeida or the Donmar or in the commercial West End.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Monogram pumpkins and place them on your front porch for outdoor pumpkin decor that welcomes guests to your bewitching abode.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Every aspect of this filmmaking recalls the bewitching experience of encountering the supernatural.
    Daniel Noah, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Cornelia joined the pair towards the end of their dance, which delighted judge Kym, who praised the way the trio kicked off the night.
    Brianne Tracy, PEOPLE, 15 Oct. 2025
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Countless service members were seduced by the region’s beauty and fair weather and chose to settle here.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Models walking his sultry runway seduced the audience in beautiful suiting, a dress with a plunging neckline that mirrored an equally high slit.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enchant. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on enchant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!