attractive
Americanadjective
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providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner; pleasing; charming; alluring.
an attractive personality.
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arousing interest or engaging one's thought, consideration, etc.: an attractive price.
an attractive idea;
an attractive price.
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having the quality of attracting.
adjective
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appealing to the senses or mind through beauty, form, character, etc
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arousing interest
an attractive opportunity
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possessing the ability to draw or pull
an attractive force
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of attractive
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English attractif, attractive, (from Middle French at(t)ractif ), from Late Latin attractīvus “(of a medicine) having drawing power, absorptive,” derivative of attractus , “drawn, contracted,” see attract, -ive
Explanation
Anybody or anything that's attractive is visually pleasing or draws you in. Being attractive has to do with attracting others, one way or another. If you're talking about a magnet, that's a literal, physical kind of attraction. For people, being attractive usually means you're beautiful or handsome enough to pull in the attention of others. But having a great personality or a good job are attractive traits, too. If someone offered to give you something valuable for a good price, you could also say, "That's an attractive offer" — meaning it's tempting.
Vocabulary lists containing attractive
Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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Structure and Properties of Matter - Introductory
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Positive Words to Describe People, List 2
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
BII continues to favor selective exposure to AI-related companies and listed infrastructure, where growing demand and scarcity in critical infrastructure can support attractive returns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
That makes it particularly attractive as a reserve asset, and should underpin demand from central banks and institutional investors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
It’s worth noting, Markowski says, that some people are just more attractive to mosquitoes than others — it comes down to body composition and micro-odors from breath and sweat, among other factors.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 4, 2026
As MarketWatch’s Beth Pinsker explains, it’s less about chasing today’s attractive 5.51% yield on Series I debt than preparing for the risk that retirees often overlook: selling their stocks when the market is down.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 3, 2026
If he hadn’t known him for most of his life, Moss probably would have found him attractive, but the man was like family to him, especially in the years after his father died.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
