appealing

1 of 2

adjective

ap·​peal·​ing ə-ˈpē-liŋ 

1

: having appeal : pleasing

an appealing design

2

: marked by earnest entreaty : imploring

the appealing look of an injured dog

appealingly

ə-ˈpē-liŋ-lē 

adverb

appealing

2 of 2

present participle of appeal entry 2

Synonyms of appealing

Adjective

• attractive
• charming
• charismatic
• fascinating
• seductive
• enchanting

Examples of appealing in a Sentence

Adjective

a book with an appealing title

the idea of living on Mars is appealing to space enthusiasts

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

His Afro and leather jacket project swagger, but there’s an appealing openness in his material, too, a willingness to self-deprecate in service of a harder joke. — Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 21 Sep. 2026

Nora’s time in the office, and the relationships that blossom — and one that withers — over the course of that formative span give shape to this earnest, appealing movie about idealism lost but innocence preserved. — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

And that’s very appealing, and it was invented actually shortly after quantum physics was invented. — Quanta Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026

In fact, memories and scents are so interconnected that it’s widely believed there’s no such thing as a universally appealing smell. — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of appeal entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing appealing

• find appealing

Rhymes for appealing

• annealing
• concealing
• congealing
• freewheeling
• repealing
• revealing
• unfeeling
• ceiling
• dealing
• feeling
• healing
• heeling