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

Although the interest rates that could be achieved by lending gold to these companies could look attractive, holders of gold should consider the creditworthiness and trustworthiness of the borrowers and act with extreme caution, Reade noted. —Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 18 Nov. 2025

Batteries make solar, which is otherwise only available when the sun shines, more flexible and even more attractive. —Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025

One study even found that newborns who are seen as more attractive by hospital nursing staff get picked up more frequently. —NPR, 17 Nov. 2025

With his success at Ole Miss, Kiffin has consistently been linked to rumors about other openings across the sport—some of which are considered more attractive or potentially lucrative than his current position. —Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 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