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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 Wedged in the far southeastern corner of the bottom of the continent, between South Africa and Mozambique, Eswatini is the last absolute monarchy in Africa, a status that bewilders modernizers and beguiles traditionalists. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 15 Aug. 2025 Ferry isn’t the only academic researcher beguiled by these snapshots of another era. Suyin Haynes, CNN Money, 22 July 2025 Episodes ended by dangling game rules and character deaths, beguiling us to keep watching. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 June 2025 The atmosphere is beguiling, because all these signs do not quite equate to a feeling, or diagnosis, of danger. Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for beguile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beguile
Verb
  • And this character fascinated me, this person in an environment that has so much to offer but who’s so fragile inside.
    Damon Wise, Deadline, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Levitation has fascinated both entertainers and scientists for centuries.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In the decades that followed, Freeman, who died in 2025, assembled a vast array of literary fakes, collecting books whose content is deceiving in nature.
    Big Think, Big Think, 13 Oct. 2025
  • Experts have warned that such videos may go viral and deceive voters, potentially increasing voter distrust in the media and political system more generally.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some may be tempted to quote Warren Buffett as a counterpoint, who was famously skeptical on the utility of gold.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Like some of the other band members, he was tempted to follow.
    Ivan Kashinsky, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In early September, Jakarta police alleged that some TikTok users purposefully broadcast live during the violence to entice viewers into giving them gifts or virtual prizes that can be exchanged for cash.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There's something wicked about building horror movies around toys, dolls, and other kid-friendly touchstones; they're bound to entice (and potentially scar) curious young audiences more than usual.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Super blue moons can also occur, but don’t be fooled by the name.
    Callum Sutherland, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
  • But don't let the name fool you — this Matlock isn't a straight remake of the '80s legal drama starring Andy Griffith.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Countless service members were seduced by the region’s beauty and fair weather and chose to settle here.
    Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Models walking his sultry runway seduced the audience in beautiful suiting, a dress with a plunging neckline that mirrored an equally high slit.
    Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The mass of greenery sets the stage as a fresh background for blooming plants or can enchant visitors on its own.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 13 Oct. 2025
  • He and his mother, the late Eve Branson, were enchanted.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Hackers often use look-alike domains to trick you into thinking the site is real.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Hackers are using the messaging app Telegram and fake websites that impersonate brands to trick users into installing the malware, which will masquerade as popular apps, including TikTok, YouTube, and Google Photos.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Beguile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beguile. Accessed 14 Oct. 2025.

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