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

• alluring
• appealing
• bewitching
• captivating
• charismatic
• charming
• elfin
• enchanting
• engaging
• entrancing
• fascinating
• fetching
• glamorous
• glamourous
• luring
• magnetic
• seductive

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

That’s because their dividend yields will seem more attractive to income-seeking investors when compared with the yields on Treasurys. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2024

This focus can improve student outcomes, making the school more attractive to potential enrollees, and bring back families that pursued private education or homeschooling options. —Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 4 Oct. 2024

Morgan Stanley research also indicates that sustainable brands outperform their non-sustainable counterparts—making organizations with effective ESG strategies even more attractive to investors. —Ted Kail, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

That can be done by revisiting the city’s building and design codes to make developments more attractive. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 2 Oct. 2024

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

Kids Definition

attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv 

: having the power or quality of attracting

especially : charming, pleasing

attractively adverb

attractiveness noun