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

Travel is an attractive long term structural growth market. —Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025

On the plus side, making bags is just as easy as with the Nesco and by contrast, Anova’s is much more attractive in a glossy black finish that won’t stick out as much among your more modern appliances. —Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appétit, 27 Jan. 2025

But Randall was entirely different; that was attractive. —Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025

Their new schedule involves games on every day of the week except Wednesday as part of the Big Ten’s efforts to provide attractive inventory to television partners. —Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 26 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