attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv 

1

a

: arousing interest or pleasure : charming

an attractive smile

b

: appealing

an attractive offer

2

: having or relating to the power to attract

attractive forces between molecules

attractively adverb

attractiveness noun

Synonyms

• beautiful
• handsome
• cute
• lovely
• gorgeous
• pretty
• charming
• stunning
• good

Examples of attractive in a Sentence

An attractive woman greeted us at the door.

The camera has many attractive features at a very attractive price.

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes artificial ingredients are used to give drinks an attractive appearance, texture, or color, or added for flavoring, or as a preservative to help prevent spoiling. —Heidi Moawad, Verywell Health, 21 Oct. 2025

Bagri believes that Sunrun's market share could increase over time, helping facilitate even more attractive terms with equipment providers. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025

Like most spaces in the attractive abode, the bedrooms spill out to the park-like grounds, which are showcased by a 55-foot-by-21-foot pool surrounded by a grassy lawn and sundeck, along with a separate spa and a marble fire pit. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2025

Crafted out of recyclable and renewable materials, they’re boosted with a Cloudfoam Comfort sockliner, flaunt a suede upper that taps into one of fall 2025’s most desirable materials, and have attractive perforations as part of the design. —Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English attractif, attractive "drawing out foreign matter from the body, able to ingest nutriments," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French attractif, attratif, borrowed from Late Latin attractīvus "capable of attracting, drawing toward itself," from Latin attractus, past participle of attrahere "to draw with force, compel to come" + -īvus -ive — more at attract

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for attractive

• contractive
• extractive
• inactive
• proactive
• reactive
• refractive
• subtractive
• active
• tractive
• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive

Kids Definition

attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv 

: having the power or quality of attracting

especially : charming, pleasing

attractively adverb

attractiveness noun