beguiling 1 of 2

adjective

bi-ˈgī-liŋ How to pronounce beguiling (audio)
Definition of beguilingnext
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

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2
as in misleading
tending or having power to deceive the beguiling allure of a life of crime

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beguiling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of beguile
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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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 beguiling
Adjective
The insularity of You Follow Me makes the album beguiling. — David Harris, SPIN, 11 June 2026 First, there’s Green Chartreuse, a beguiling and almost hallucinogenically intense combination of 132 secret ingredients, which have been infused and distilled into high-proof alcohol by silent French monks since at least 1764, and probably quite a bit longer than that. — Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 30 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
  1. cunning
  2. misleading
  3. fascinating
  4. deceiving
  5. tempting
  6. cute
  7. deceptive
  8. charming
Adjective
  • This Claudia is the opposite of Hayles’s quiet, cunning performance as Regina and conveys a phenomenal range.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • Also of great importance in the finale is the revelation that the Soviets, thanks to the cunning genius of the Chief Designer, made it to Venus after all.
    — Hunter Ingram, Variety, 10 July 2026
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • The information on garment labels is often inaccurate or misleading, according to new research by the European Commission.
    — Tamsin Blanchard, Vogue, 16 July 2026
  • The standout interlude is the soldiers’ visit to the island domain of Circe, a treacherous witch played with deceptive calm and a misleading air of distraction by a bone-chilling Samantha Morton.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
Definition of misleading
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of fascinating
Verb
  • Those figures, though, are a bit deceiving; infant and childhood mortality dragged them down dramatically.
    — Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 30 June 2026
  • Appearance, though, can be deceiving, but luckily, this shed is still packed with smart features and a clever design that will keep all your belongings safe.
    — Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 29 June 2026
Definition of deceiving
Verb
  • Extreme heat, tempting open bodies of water and outdoor critters can all prove deadly.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 9 July 2026
  • While many dangerous plants are unlikely to appear in a flower garden, there are some weeds that produce beautiful flowers and tempting berries that may look right at home next to your camellias, but are downright deadly.
    — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of tempting
Adjective
  • Sherri Shepherd looks cute in polka dots to watch Tracee Ellis Ross make her Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing on July 16 in New York City.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026
  • Meredith, New Hampshire Meredith is one of those almost unbearably cute small East Coast towns—especially in the fall, when the colors really pop.
    — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • The standout interlude is the soldiers’ visit to the island domain of Circe, a treacherous witch played with deceptive calm and a misleading air of distraction by a bone-chilling Samantha Morton.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2026
  • Using a clinician’s name, image, or credentials in a synthetic endorsement without consent should be treated as deceptive practice, with liability directed toward those who commission or distribute the content.
    — Henry Bair, STAT, 14 July 2026
Definition of deceptive
Verb
  • Plant flowering shrubs or vines that can trail over the top, charming the neighbors while screening the view at the same time.
    — Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 13 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of charming

Browse Nearby Words

beguiles
beguiling
begun
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Cite this Entry

“Beguiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beguiling. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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