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 Allegheny National Forest, just around 90 minutes from Erie, Pennsylvania, enchants with rolling peaks that reflect off calm, paddle-friendly waterways. Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026 Then take a ride on Shrek & Fiona’s Happily Ogre After to hear how an ogre and a princess were enchanted by love. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026 But Crowther’s sleuthing determines that Joyce’s novel was a regular companion of hers, and she was particularly enchanted with Molly Bloom’s closing soliloquy. Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026 Nearly 45 years after her passing, Princess Grace’s jewelry continues to enchant and inspire. Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for enchant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant
Verb
  • Part of what fascinated me about their presentation was not only their refusal to kowtow to male desire, which for decades had a stranglehold on rock aesthetics, but a concomitant disavowal of commercialism.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • Princess Kate, 44, previously revealed that all of her children are fascinated by planes and other aircraft.
    Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • Al Qutaibi will serve 30 days in jail on charges of conspiracy to transport unstamped cigarettes, conspiracy to possess a counterfeit tax stamp, and possession of more than 30 cartons of unstamped cigarettes.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 17 June 2026
  • Renard possesses significant international experience, having led Morocco at the 2018 World Cup in their first appearance since 1998, and guiding Saudi Arabia to a shock group stage win over eventual champions Argentina in 2022.
    Sam Joseph, New York Times, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • On Sunday, Scottish supporters charmed locals with a festive march to Fenway Park, where the Red Sox hosted Scottish Heritage Night amid an influx of World Cup fans.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 June 2026
  • In the present, Eddie, a book editor, charms everyone in Daphne’s circle, including her mom, who divorced him decades earlier.
    The Week US, TheWeek, 17 June 2026
Verb
  • Another win for the Blågult would send it through to the knockout stage and could spell disaster for a Dutch team widely expected to go far in the competition.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 20 June 2026
  • But a Pulisic absence on the left side could spell trouble for the Americans.
    Becky Sullivan, NPR, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Seen from the other side of the deal, that means that bond issuers must pay higher yields, or rates, for investors to be enticed to buy.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 15 June 2026
  • Financial incentives offered by the conservation district, in conjunction with federal programs, have enticed farmers in the South Fork of the Republican River near Burlington to end irrigation on an additional 20,000 acres.
    Allen Best, Denver Post, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • That all led up to what remains her signature role as Phoebe Halliwell on Charmed, bewitching audiences for eight seasons.
    JP Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 10 June 2026
  • But to do so would be to miss out on the truly bewitching local neighborhood.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
    Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 16 June 2026
  • Iran responded in the 64th minute with Rezaeian’s cross headed home by Mohammad Mohebi, tying the score and delighting fans.
    Iliana Limón Romero, Los Angeles Times, 16 June 2026
Verb
  • One class in, and Hannah is thoroughly seduced both by Melanie’s flattery and by her therapyspeak approach to acting, with its talk of truth-telling and connecting to one’s body.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 June 2026
  • Young women being preyed upon and seduced by rapacious Hollywood producers, stars and studio heads is a tired cliché, but like all clichés, it is based on reality.
    Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on enchant

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