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 Carol is alternately enchanted and frustrated by her husband’s innocence and altruism, which led him to his not particularly remunerative career as an interpreter. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026 Generations of visitors to the Okefenokee Swamp have been enchanted by its rich wildlife, black waters and cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026 Clark’s Elioak Farm, at 10600 Clarksville Pike, has a lot to offer in addition to its Enchanted Forest features that have truly enchanted kids for decades. Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026 Theron plays the nymph Calypso, who keeps Odysseus enchanted on her island for seven years. Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enchant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant
Verb
  • The question fascinated David Hilbert, a renowned mathematician who had devoted much of his life to rebuilding physics on a sturdy foundation of crisp axioms.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • QAnon haunts Washington I’m particularly fascinated by the ghost of QAnon – how the theory continues to haunt politics today.
    Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Eisenhower possessed iron discipline, sunny self-confidence and a mind that loved organizational challenges.
    John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Ticket sales Assembly Bill 1349 would prohibit sellers from offering or marketing tickets to concerts and sporting events by a person that doesn’t actually possess the ticket.
    Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Among those charmed over time was Kurt Cobain, who called their 1969 debut Philosophy of the World his fifth-favorite album.
    Steve Hochman, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026
  • His charmed early life and promising political career were slowed, but not halted, when he was stricken with polio in his late 30s.
    John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The shape spelled cat, and there was only one kind of cat in India big enough to make such prints.
    Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026
  • This festival, whose name is actually Halloween spelled backward, is the largest annual festival in Kansas.
    Katy Spratte Joyce, Midwest Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The bet is that the interesting content will entice fans around the world and grow the series’ audience as the debut of its second season draws near.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • When Idrissa Gueye’s pass to Vitalii Mykolenko entices Curtis Jones to press the left-back, Dewsbury-Hall and McNeil spot the space behind Ibrahima Konate and attack it.
    Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Even sequels and prequels — say, those in the Star Wars canon — ideally aspire to a degree of self-sufficiency in which the audience can discern the story and, properly bewitched, can proceed to seek out the other movies.
    Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
  • For birdwatching in colder climates, the Highlands of Scotland are endlessly bewitching.
    Lydia Swinscoe, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In the last two months, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall hosted two ‘80s British music triple bills that delighted fans of the golden MTV era.
    David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • This is a prospect that particularly delights Lady Eliza Spencer, Princess Diana’s niece and Prince Harry’s cousin.
    Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • When Miguel is being seduced by the bunker project, Zeller and composer Volker Bertelmann even weave voices resembling the Sirens into the score.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • In luxury hospitality, a beautiful site can seduce almost anyone.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enchant. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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