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
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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
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 May 2026
Not just the neat trick of beguiling highbrow critics while at the same time pleasing millions of readers who don’t care about literary bona fides.
—Literary Hub, 7 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
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
Not just the neat trick of beguiling highbrow critics while at the same time pleasing millions of readers who don’t care about literary bona fides.
—Literary Hub, 7 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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What could be more cunning and disgusting than training dogs to commit anal rape?—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
21 May 2026
-
Dano’s static line delivery gets used for a chilling but laconic effect as his character’s cunning political negotiations lead to deadly outcomes.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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In the case that led to the large sanction, Quinn Emanuel’s client Natera needed to show that science backed up the advertising statements its rival Guardant alleged were false and misleading, Chen noted in his order.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
27 May 2026
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Job descriptions are too rigid and titles are often misleading and neither tends to truly capture what people actually do.—
Keith Ferrazzi,
Forbes.com,
27 May 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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Yet while Hiller has been seemingly everywhere on TV lately, appearances in this industry can be deceiving.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2026
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The final score was deceiving because the Rockies scored five runs in the ninth off infielder Miguel Rojas, who was pitching in relief to save wear and tear on the Dodgers’ bullpen.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Rising from the Mediterranean, this little isle, full of dramatic peaks and grottoes, has been tempting travelers for 2,000 years.—
Laura Itzkowitz,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
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This pick comes right around where the last top centers and D are available, and Gustafsson and Tynan Lawrence are certainly tempting at premium positions.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Right now, the comfy-cute cute walking shoes are on sale from just $55.—
Ruby McAuliffe,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
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My favorites include breezy linen co-ords, casual-but-cute loungewear sets, and elevated athleisure styles that work for basically everything — starting at $21.—
Jill Layton,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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This isn’t an easy history to tell since obfuscation, confusion, and deceptive hype are its central themes.—
Jonathan Odden,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
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Owens also challenged the ballot title and summary as deceptive.—
Jack Harvel
June 2,
Kansas City Star,
2 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 7 Jun. 2026.
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