attract

Definition of attractnext

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 The inexpensive warehouses that attracted artists eventually became valuable real estate. — Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026 Geosmin also attracts spore-spreading animals, such as springtails, which help disperse the compound even more widely. — Gregory Wakeman, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026 New orders secured The company has reportedly attracted over 100 orders for the new freighter even as flight testing gets underway. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 Brands can’t wait until peak season to attract attention; that’s where smart visibility strategies come in. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attract
Verb
  • Anyone with a console can watch it, which enticed the comedian.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Every book wants to be the one that provides your betting options, and the welcome offer is the way to entice you to use their app.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Try the version that interests you before worrying about whether everyone understands it.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026
  • What interested me most was the psychic cost of doing this work day in and day out.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Attract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attract. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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