BEGUILE Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'beguile' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of beguile are deceive , delude , and mislead . While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving. // was beguiled by false promises

Q: When is 'deceive' a more appropriate choice than 'beguile'?

While the synonyms deceive and beguile are close in meaning, deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness. // tried to deceive me about the cost

Q: When would 'delude' be a good substitute for 'beguile'?

The meanings of delude and beguile largely overlap; however, delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth. // we were deluded into thinking we were safe

Q: In what contexts can 'mislead' take the place of 'beguile'?

The words mislead and beguile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional. // I was misled by the confusing sign

beguile

verb

bi-ˈgī(-ə)l

Definition of beguile next

as in to fascinate

to attract or delight as if by magic the magician effortlessly beguiled and amazed the children

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deceive

to cause to believe what is untrue beguiled her into believing that yet another worthless item would enhance her life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to tempt

to lead away from a usual or proper course by offering some pleasure or advantage was beguiled by the promise of easy money as a drug dealer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb beguile differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of beguile are deceive, delude, and mislead. While all these words mean "to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness," beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

When is deceive a more appropriate choice than beguile?

While the synonyms deceive and beguile are close in meaning, deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

When would delude be a good substitute for beguile?

The meanings of delude and beguile largely overlap; however, delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

In what contexts can mislead take the place of beguile?

The words mislead and beguile are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of beguile And then in those late nineteen-sixties and early seventies the politician Zulfikar Ali Bhutto had found the magic words with which to beguile an unsophisticated electorate—equality, power to the people, distribution of wealth and nationalizations—and so all those ideas were eddying about. —

Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025 Even as disembodied typists, the bots can beguile. —

Damon Beres, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2025 In the five years just before war set in, these were among the dwellings that had beguiled Heinz Gaube (1940–2022), a German academic at the Oriental Seminar of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen. —

JSTOR Daily, 25 Oct. 2025 The results of all those frames are beguiling slow-motion shots that show just how close riders’ body parts are to touching the pavement while leaning during turns. —

Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beguile

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beguile

Verb

What fascinates me most about this girl gang is the intensity, particularly the narrator’s love for fighting.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 2026
Still, in the right hands, pretty can fascinate.

— Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026