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

The all-year-round surf scene here is so attractive that it’s even famed for being a regular favorite of Morocco’s royal heirs. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Feb. 2026

As the Federal Reserve cut rates, assets that do not pay interest, such as gold, became more attractive relative to bonds and cash. —Jason Phillips, USA Today, 18 Feb. 2026

But in recent years, the Yankees’ unsuccessful pursuits of Sasaki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto highlighted how the Los Angeles Dodgers have become the most attractive team for Japanese stars. —Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026

Vaccines that use mRNA are attractive prospects for protecting against flu and a host of other diseases, including cancer. —Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 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