attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv How to pronounce attractive (audio)
Synonyms of attractive
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 of attractive

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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
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.
Anybody can be charming to a powerful boss, an attractive stranger, or a potentially useful client; character is more diagnostic when there is little reputational or instrumental benefit to behaving well. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 During that period the valuation became more attractive as the earnings boomed and the price stayed the same. — Kevin Simpson, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026 That was the first time my eyes really opened to indie filmmaking and shooting on film—such an attractive way of making a movie. — Wengel Gemu, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026 Still, the small form factor could make the technology attractive for compact industrial sensors and other devices where space is limited. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for attractive

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of attractive was circa 1540

Rhymes for attractive

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Browse Nearby Words

attraction sphere
attractive
attractor
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Cite this Entry

“Attractive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/attractive. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

attractive

adjective
at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv How to pronounce attractive (audio)
: having the power or quality of attracting
especially : charming, pleasing
attractively adverb
attractiveness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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