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 Earlier generations experienced the Lyric as a destination company presenting extended runs and attracting audiences from across North America. Helmut Paul, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026 On streams and creeks, wood laydowns are prime locations to find oversized ’gills, as the branches attract baitfish and other forage, and the structure creates a soft spot on the downstream side of the laydown. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026 See/Saw notes Kings Road attracted a workforce broadly drawn from the Minneapolis punk scene. Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 9 July 2026 The marketing image of Mitchell’s kindergarten-age daughter wearing one of the clear hydrogel sheet masks didn’t help, reading like a misguided attempt to attract attention in crowded social feeds. Fiorella Valdesolo, Allure, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for attract
Recent Examples of Synonyms for attract
Verb
  • The play, which won the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize this year, entices on the page despite seeming overstuffed and curiously decentralized.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Despite rising costs, a number of properties throughout the country are keeping prices affordable to entice thrill-seekers.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Nothing that would interest a musicologist in any serious forensic sense.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 6 July 2026
  • These are novels about bohemian communities of friends and lovers and artistic collaborators, which is a big part of what interests me about AIDS activism.
    Sarah Schulman, Literary Hub, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Attract.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/attract. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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