attractive

[ uh-trak-tiv ]

/ əˈtræk tɪv /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR attractive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

providing pleasure or delight, especially in appearance or manner; pleasing; charming; alluring: an attractive personality.

arousing interest or engaging one's thought, consideration, etc.: an attractive idea; an attractive price.

having the quality of attracting.

Nearby words

attract, attractancy, attractant, attraction, attraction sphere, attractive, attractive nuisance, attractively, attractor, attrahent, attrib.

Origin of attractive

1375–1425; late Middle English attractif (< Middle French) < Late Latin attractīvus of a medicine with drawing power. See attract, -ive

Related forms

at·trac·tive·ly, adverbat·trac·tive·ness, nounsu·per·at·trac·tive, adjectivesu·per·at·trac·tive·ly, adverb

su·per·at·trac·tive·ness, nounun·at·trac·tive, adjectiveun·at·trac·tive·ly, adverbun·at·trac·tive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for attractiveness

She writes, “In your early 20s, you are at the peak of your attractiveness and your fertility.”
Why Some Women Should Listen To Princeton Mom (But Not All Of Us)|Keli Goff|March 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I know, for example, that there's an internal Ethiopian hierarchy of attractiveness related to skin tone.
Israel’s Ethiopian Beauty Queen Sparks Debate|Don Futterman|April 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And how common is an attractiveness gap in American couples?
The Ugly Husbands Club|Tony Doukopil|July 29, 2011|DAILY BEAST
And at the height of my attractiveness they worked great for me.
Kathleen Turner's New Broadway High|Kevin Sessums|April 17, 2011|DAILY BEAST

Attractiveness is not exactly a qualification for judicial office.
Why Elena Kagan's Looks Matter|Deborah L. Rhode|June 26, 2010|DAILY BEAST
The participation of the Cushman sisters in this entertainment greatly enhanced its interest and attractiveness.
William E. Burton: Actor, Author, and Manager|William L. Keese
Besides, I am quite ready to admit the attractiveness of the little Japanese children; some of them are most fascinating.
Madame Chrysantheme Complete|Pierre Loti
This attractiveness continues to the summit, which is capped, as it were, with the official residence and forts.
Seven Legs Across the Seas|Samuel Murray
Mr. Bush's strong and life-like illustrations add much to the attractiveness of the book.
Queer Stories for Boys and Girls|Edward Eggleston
It need hardly be said that these stories have a peculiar charm and attractiveness for children.
Special Method in Primary Reading and Oral Work with Stories|Charles Alexander McMurry

British Dictionary definitions for attractiveness

attractive

/ (əˈtræktɪv) /

adjective

appealing to the senses or mind through beauty, form, character, etc

arousing interestan attractive opportunity

possessing the ability to draw or pullan attractive force

Derived Formsattractively, adverbattractiveness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for attractiveness

attractive

adj.

late 14c., "absorptive," from Middle French attractif (14c.), from attract-, past participle stem of attrahere (see attract). Meaning "having the quality of drawing people's eye or interest" is from 1580s; sense of "pleasing, alluring" is from c.1600. Related: Attractively; attractiveness.

attractive

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of attractive

Examples from the Web for attractiveness

British Dictionary definitions for attractiveness

attractive

adjective

Word Origin and History for attractiveness

attractive