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 of attractive

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

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

This approach strengthens both domestic and international private investment in companies based in Spain, while also attracting foreign businesses that see Spain as an attractive location to establish their operations. — John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026

On the otherwise attractive exterior, the clarity of incised inscriptions in the limestone varies considerably under different lighting conditions and can be too subtle. — Edward Keegan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026

At the same time, other heavily indebted countries and AI hyperscalers are competing for bond investors’ capital, so auctions require attractive yields to draw sufficient demand. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

In 2025, Newsom signed into a law a $420 million annual expansion to the program in the face of film and TV projects fleeing to other states and countries with attractive tax credits. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

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