attract

Synonym Chooser

How is the word attract different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of attract are allure, captivate, charm, enchant, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

When is it sensible to use allure instead of attract?

While the synonyms allure and attract are close in meaning, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

How are the words charm and captivate related as synonyms of attract?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

Where would enchant be a reasonable alternative to attract?

The synonyms enchant and attract are sometimes interchangeable, but enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

When might fascinate be a better fit than attract?

Although the words fascinate and attract have much in common, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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 attract As its name suggests, skunk cabbage flowers give off a musky odor that attracts carrion-eating flies and gnats. Skylar Knight, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025 While triple-digit heat records attract the most attention, overnight low temperature readings reveal just how hot and dangerous the last few days have been. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 27 June 2025 Ischia, known for its greenery and thermal springs, is a bigger island and has traditionally attracted a less-glamorous crowd. Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 27 June 2025 The event follows an election in which Donald Trump attracted more support from Hispanic voters, becoming the first president in nearly 40 years to win majority-Hispanic Miami-Dade County. Siena Duncan, Miami Herald, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for attract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attract
Verb
  • Each tune has its own momentum, with several of them enticing audiences and exciting them for his sophomore album American Heart, which arrives tomorrow (Friday, June 20).
    Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • Netflix may entice its subscribers to chill, but the global streamer is working on new offerings and deals to future-proof its content lineup and business.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Verb
  • What interested him most was why his captors had resorted to kidnapping him and his father in the first place.
    Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
  • For now, the editorial line of the streamers in France doesn’t interest me.
    Annika Pham, Variety, 12 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Attract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attract. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on attract

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