enchanted; enchanting; enchants
Synonyms of enchantnext

transitive verb

1
: to influence by or as if by charms and incantation : bewitch
2
: to attract and move deeply : rouse to ecstatic admiration
… the scene enchanted her to the point of tears …—Elinor Wylie
Choose the Right Synonym for enchant

attract, allure, charm, captivate, fascinate, enchant mean to draw another by exerting a powerful influence.

attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response,

charmed by their hospitality

but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

her performances captivated audiences

fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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

Examples of enchant in a Sentence

The book has enchanted children for almost a century. The beauty of the place enchants.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
After falling in love with one another, the pair became enchanted by wine when McCollum was playing for the Portland Trail Blazers. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2026 He is enchanted by the spinning itself, and even by his own enchantment – a spell that breaks the instant the top stops in his hand. — Stacy Keltner, The Conversation, 30 Oct. 2026 Lucy, his daughter, was enchanted by Duke, walking toward him before taking a step back. — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026 Sita, enchanted by the exquisite deer, urges Rama to pursue it nevertheless. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for enchant

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French enchanter, from Latin incantare, from in- + cantare to sing — more at chant

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enchant was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enchant. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

1
: to influence by charms and magic : bewitch
2
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