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

The competitively priced — in relation to its regular models — smartphone might not be as attractive in value if tariffs force Apple, among other U.S. companies, to raise prices. —Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2025

Valuation is attractive Uber currently trades at 30x consensus full year 2025 earnings per share and 22x consensus full year 2026 earnings per share. —Gurufocus, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025

Pritzker rightfully put a lot of emphasis on making this state a more attractive place to start or expand a business. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025

Beautiful Perfect Grind Single Serve Coffee Maker $99 at Walmart Coffee makers aren’t always the most attractive appliances to look at, but thanks to this one’s sleek design and gorgeous color, it’s bound to become more of a statement piece and less of an eyesore on your countertop. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 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

Rhymes for attractive

• contractive
• extractive
• inactive
• proactive
• reactive
• refractive
• subtractive
• active
• tractive
• bioactive
• hyperactive
• interactive

Kids Definition

attractive

adjective

at·​trac·​tive ə-ˈtrak-tiv 

: having the power or quality of attracting

especially : charming, pleasing

attractively adverb

attractiveness noun