Synonyms

appealing

American

[uh-pee-ling] / əˈpi lɪŋ /

adjective

evoking or attracting interest, desire, curiosity, sympathy, or the like; attractive.

Other Word Forms

appealingly adverb
appealingness noun
nonappealing adjective
nonappealingly adverb
nonappealingness noun
quasi-appealing adjective
quasi-appealingly adverb
unappealing adjective
unappealingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of appealing

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; appeal + -ing ²

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.

Companies backed by private-equity firms are appealing customers in part because their owners are already trying to cut costs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

Lawrence has found a character formula viewers find appealing, and Carell’s affability sells Greg’s stumbles, even ones pulled from the annals of early aughts bro comedies.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

We should pay attention to what makes practices like film photography so appealing in a digital age.

From Slate • Apr. 4, 2026

Fully remote work may also sound appealing, but there’s “still less stability” compared with jobs where workers can build face-to-face relationships with their bosses.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

“It was a very appealing dream of what you want your life to be like.”

From "Outcasts United: An American Town, a Refugee Team, and One Woman's Quest to Make a Difference" by Warren St. John

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023