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

Falling bond yields generally make dividend payouts look relatively more attractive. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2025

With affordability and attractive weather comes hordes of like-minded travelers. —Katie Chang, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

The Weimar Republic’s financial and regulatory morass made strongman rule attractive. —Tanner H. Jones, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025

Print out your house numbers in an attractive font, then trace them onto your pumpkin with a ballpoint pen. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 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