attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv 

1

a

: arousing interest or pleasure : charming

an attractive smile

b

: appealing

an attractive offer

2

: having or relating to the power to attract

attractive forces between molecules

attractively adverb

attractiveness noun

Synonyms

• alluring
• appealing
• bewitching
• captivating
• charismatic
• charming
• elfin
• enchanting
• engaging
• entrancing
• fascinating
• fetching
• glamorous
• glamourous
• luring
• magnetic
• seductive

Examples of attractive in a Sentence

An attractive woman greeted us at the door.

The camera has many attractive features at a very attractive price.

Recent Examples on the Web

Just before the Dallas Cowboys and Mike McCarthy decided to part ways Monday, The Athletic’s Jeff Howe polled five assistant coaches to get a pulse on the most attractive head coaching vacancies around the NFL. —Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 15 Jan. 2025

Both powerhouse countries are refusing to play them in bilateral series although those stances have raised eyebrows given series against Afghanistan aren't commercially attractive. —Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025

Aikman also contended that this is not as attractive a destination for prospective coaches as some might believe. —Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 14 Jan. 2025

But buying TikTok could be an attractive option for Musk. —Ars Technica, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English attractif, attractive "drawing out foreign matter from the body, able to ingest nutriments," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French attractif, attratif, borrowed from Late Latin attractīvus "capable of attracting, drawing toward itself," from Latin attractus, past participle of attrahere "to draw with force, compel to come" + -īvus -ive — more at attract

First Known Use

circa 1540, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv 

: having the power or quality of attracting

especially : charming, pleasing

attractively adverb

attractiveness noun