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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deceiving
to cause to believe what is untrue beguiled her into believing that yet another worthless item would enhance her life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
These include an always-performing, mercurial actress (Greta Lee, enjoying every minute of this meaty role) dedicated to the fine art of being considered beguiling. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 In Lili Horvát’s beguiling third feature, the sudden return of Sam’s missing wife, who has no memory of anything except her scientific research, gives their relationship another chance. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Aug. 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
  • Supporters of the administration view this back and forth as a cunning ploy to buy time for the United States to position itself more advantageously for a confrontation.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Owen is bamboozled by a cunning opportunist, handcuffed, and robbed in his underwear.
    — Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of cunning
Adjective
  • A matter of distance and brightness The stars that compose the Triangle — Vega, Altair, and Deneb — lie at very unequal distances from us, so their apparent brightness can give a misleading impression of their true luminosity.
    — Joe Rao, Space.com, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Publishers don’t want irrelevant or misleading ads to appear on their media sources.
    — Roman Vrublivskyi, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 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
  • Williams will not be charged because Heggebo’s offence was successfully deceiving a match official.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Your eyes aren't deceiving you — the little delivery robots rolling down Washington DC streets are becoming a more common sight.
    — Mike Stunson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceiving
Verb
  • The moody Moon squares enthusiastic Jupiter early this morning, tempting us to spend too much, promise too much, or turn one feeling into a full production.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 2 Sep. 2026
  • However, when one of the three women feels guilty about snubbing their lifelong pal, Mel shows up and suddenly the weekend turns to complete chaos, tempting the trio to break free from the madness that has hobbled their friend group for years.
    — Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tempting
Adjective
  • Style this maxi skirt with a dressy blouse, tights, and tall boots for a cute date night ensemble, or dress it down with a sweater and sneakers for more low-key days.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Everyone was amazed that, yes, this teeny tiny thing was actually a functioning camera that could take relatively good pictures, and not just a cute, decorative keychain.
    — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • López’s attorney sent Rivas and her group a cease-and-desist letter last month, citing trademark infringement and deceptive and unfair trade practices, the letter shows.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of deceptive
Verb
  • As John and Gates are playing cards, with the con man still working on charming the agent, the first guard assigned outside in the hallway drops.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • 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
Definition of charming

Browse Nearby Words

beguiles
beguiling
begun
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beguiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beguiling. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shofar

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All