1
as in cunning
clever at attaining one's ends by indirect and often deceptive means
a smart and beguiling child who can manipulate her parents with alarming ease
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive
the beguiling allure of a life of crime
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in fascinating
to attract or delight as if by magic
the magician effortlessly beguiled and amazed the children
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2
as in deceiving
to cause to believe what is untrue
beguiled her into believing that yet another worthless item would enhance her life
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3
as in tempting
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of beguiling
Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The star was then kept intriguingly off balance by Ford (who makes a beguiling feature-film debut here), as Jimmy launches into a complex affair with Vincent.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
The results of all those frames are beguiling slow-motion shots that show just how close riders’ body parts are to touching the pavement while leaning during turns.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beguiling
Adjective
This beguiling wine bar on one of the original streets of Chinatown is a model for how to enter a historic neighborhood respectfully, without erasing what came before.
—Ligaya Mishan, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The star was then kept intriguingly off balance by Ford (who makes a beguiling feature-film debut here), as Jimmy launches into a complex affair with Vincent.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Verb
Approximately 170 miles north of downtown San Francisco, Fort Bragg is a remote coastal city in California, beloved for its native redwoods, beguiling bluffs and beaches, and overall sense of tranquility.
—Chelsee Lowe, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026
The results of all those frames are beguiling slow-motion shots that show just how close riders’ body parts are to touching the pavement while leaning during turns.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for beguiling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beguiling
Adjective
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Seehorn’s indelible portrayal of the cunning Kim Wexler transformed the character from one-off love interest to irreplaceable mainstay, and thus, a partnership was born.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
13 June 2026
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But statistics fail to convey the humanity of yard sales—the caprice, whimsy, and high spirits, as well as the cunning, weirdness, and heartbreak, that charge and thicken the air when two people agree to perform an off-the-books monetary transaction.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
Adjective
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The lawsuit claims several pieces of the ballot summary are misleading.—
Gray Rohrer,
Miami Herald,
12 June 2026
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But even if the court finds the ballot summary is misleading, that wouldn't erase the measure from the ballot.—
CBS Miami Team,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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But O’Malley writes that this is deceiving.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
9 June 2026
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He was also accused of deceiving escrow agents to secure the release of pre-construction condo deposits and then misappropriated those funds for personal expenses unrelated to the developments.—
Jay Weaver
June 6,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2026
Verb
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That has sent maritime insurance rates through the roof and given some financiers and shipping companies cold feet about tempting fate and navigating through the troubled waters.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
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Don't forget to check out our roundup of the best early Prime Day deals for even more savings across laptops, TVs, smart home gear, and everything else currently tempting my wallet.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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Serve this sweet-and-spicy salad with your favorite cute cocktail picks for a fresh-and-fun summer appetizer.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
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Baby raccoons, for example, are very cute, but their mother may have made a den in the attic, crawl space, or shed, which can be bad for them and for the homeowner.—
Michelle Mastro,
Martha Stewart,
20 June 2026
Adjective
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The suit alleges the group, known widely as WPATH, made deceptive claims about gender-affirming care for minors and that its members profited off the claims.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 June 2026
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Grand Canyon’s rim-to-river routes can be deceptive because the steepest physical test comes on the way out, after hikers have descended into hotter terrain, experts say.—
Jessica Mekles,
FOXNews.com,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Still, there’s something that feels small about this particular story, charming enough in the moment and almost instantly forgettable the moment the credits roll.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
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So there's a very famous example of Fidel Castro inviting Ted Turner down to Cuba and charming him and then being on the program.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beguiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beguiling. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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