Synonyms of beguile

beguile

verb

bi-ˈgī(-ə)l 

1

as in to fascinate

to attract or delight as if by magic

the magician effortlessly beguiled and amazed the children

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fascinate
• entice
• enchant
• delight
• seduce
• charm
• captivate
• tempt
• lure
• please
• bewitch
• kill
• intrigue
• interest
• allure
• witch
• wile
• magnetize
• draw
• gratify
• pull
• disarm
• woo
• enthral
• beckon
• entrance
• invite
• appeal (to)
• enthrall
• enrapture
• arrest
• solicit
• court

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• offend
• revolt
• repel
• annoy
• bore
• weary
• disgust
• displease
• irk
• tire

2

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

• deceive
• fool
• trick
• mislead
• delude
• misguide
• tease
• misinform
• hoodwink
• bamboozle
• cozen
• dupe
• kid
• sting
• cheat
• bluff
• juggle
• humbug
• sucker
• suck in
• gull
• con
• catch
• hornswoggle
• hoax
• string along
• burn
• have on
• take in
• have
• spoof
• snow
• buffalo
• gaff
• fake out
• snooker
• gammon
• do a number on
• lead one up the garden path
• defraud
• lead one down the garden path
• pull one's leg
• shortchange
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• mulct
• swindle
• put on
• stick
• diddle
• bleed
• euchre
• hustle
• chisel
• fleece
• flimflam
• squeeze
• rook
• skin

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undeceive
• reveal
• expose
• uncover
• unmask
• tell
• show up
• disclose
• debunk
• divulge
• unveil
• disabuse
• disillusion
• uncloak
• disenchant

3

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

• tempt
• seduce
• lure
• persuade
• entice
• betray
• allure
• solicit
• fascinate
• bait
• decoy
• lead on
• enchant
• inveigle
• ensnare
• trap
• entrap
• captivate
• bewitch
• enmesh
• rope (in)
• draw in
• snow
• charm
• snare
• mesh
• wile
• magnetize
• catch
• tangle
• immesh

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• warn
• alert
• caution
• ward (off)
• drive (away or off)
• forewarn
• turn away
• repulse

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

Recent Examples of beguile

Over the centuries, the fantastical beast has reportedly been sighted on several occasions — beguiling locals. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 10 Jan. 2025

Many a man was beguiled by those eyes, searching for his own reflection in their depths. —Negar Azimi, The New Yorker, 12 Dec. 2024

Mali is one of the world’s great musical cradles, and its sounds have been beguiling foreigners ever since the medieval explorer Ibn Battuta provided the only surviving eyewitness account of the empire. —Eliot Stein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2024

When foodies walk into the indoor/outdoor restaurant, they’re beguiled by the tropical décor and amazed by dishes encompassing flavors that can be savored in layers. —Essence, 6 Dec. 2024

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