enchant

Definition of enchantnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word enchant different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of enchant are allure, attract, captivate, charm, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Where would allure be a reasonable alternative to enchant?

The synonyms allure and enchant are sometimes interchangeable, but allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When is attract a more appropriate choice than enchant?

The meanings of attract and enchant largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

How do charm and captivate relate to one another, in the sense of enchant?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

In what contexts can fascinate take the place of enchant?

The words fascinate and enchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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 enchant While Rolls-Royce Cullinans waited to ferry guests to the golden sands of Jardin Tropézina, the hotel's chic beach club, children were far more enchanted by the whimsical little train that chugged them toward the 5,500-square-foot kids’ club. Amy Louise Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 19 Jan. 2026 Now Serving in Chinatown, recalled how the chef’s executive team was enchanted by the local landscape. Brock Keeling, Daily News, 16 Jan. 2026 Her popular romance stories have enchanted readers' hearts with mesmerizing tales, and by providing hope to others, Henry’s books have made generations fall head over heels for her writing. Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 Coperni’s timing proved, well, enchanted. Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enchant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant
Verb
  • Systematic excavations at Pompeii began in the mid-1700s, and the site has fascinated historians and visitors ever since.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Feb. 2026
  • Then, there are the pesky vampirologists Theobastus Bombastus (André Jung) and Nepomuk Afterbite (Marco Lorenzini), who’ve arrived at this hotel for a vampire conference and are fascinated by Erzsébet’s legend, and my god, her gowns, too.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • An assistant under Bradley and Cherundolo, Dos Santos’ first-choice tactics will be to possess the ball, counterpress and defend as far as possible from the LAFC goal, thus dominating games while attacking more through the inside with a 4-2-3-1 formation.
    Josh Gross, Daily News, 17 Feb. 2026
  • And China already possesses the world’s-largest fleet of destroyers, frigates and surface combatants.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Newsom details the everyday struggle living with his mom after his parents divorced and occasional interludes into his father’s life charmed by the Gettys’ affluence, including that day when the Gettys outfitted him in designer clothes at a luxury department store.
    Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2026
  • The Chartreuse charms the cocktail, giving it a bright herbaceousness and seductive spice, with the liqueur’s full battery of gifts echoing into a long, ambrosial finish.
    Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Allow Cathy’s companion, Nelly, to spell it out for anyone who might later stream the movie with one eye on their phone.
    Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026
  • Their cases often hinge on translating thousands of pages of complex medical records into legal arguments - work that can spell the difference between a family’s financial collapse or survival.
    Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Indonesia plans to increase its domestic fuel production and others in the region, like the Philippines, are cutting red tape to entice fuel developers.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Producers, agents and executives working in the genre say the recent boom of romance in TV and film is due in great part to studios’ seeing the power of the core audience whom authors help entice to screens.
    Rebecca Keegan, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Some of the handsomest costumes ever seen in Augusta were only eclipsed by the bright eyes and bewitching smiles.
    AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Kingsley, an acting legend thanks to his Oscar-winning performance in Gandhi, later dived so deep into a scene from episode three that the crowd, bewitched by witnessing the actor’s process, erupted into applause.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 28 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Hilke Schellmann, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2026
  • Every detail has been carefully designed to delight guests, from the private balconies with ocean views to the terraces with hot tubs.
    José Cantillo Ferrer, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Such reflection also shows us how easily scoring systems can seduce us.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
  • While the most obvious go-to target audience for Wuthering Heights is older females, the studio’s marketing team also worked hard to seduce Gen Zers and younger Millennials, as reflected by much of the ad campaign.
    Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enchant. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

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