appealing

1 of 2

adjective

ap·​peal·​ing ə-ˈpē-liŋ How to pronounce appealing (audio)
Synonyms of appealing
1
: having appeal : pleasing
an appealing design
2
: marked by earnest entreaty : imploring
the appealing look of an injured dog
appealingly
ə-ˈpē-liŋ-lē How to pronounce appealing (audio)
adverb

appealing

2 of 2

present participle of appeal entry 2

Synonyms of appealing

Relevance

Adjective

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of appealing in a Sentence

Adjective a book with an appealing title the idea of living on Mars is appealing to space enthusiasts
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
That’s an appealing quality for Hegseth, who wants Parnell for the job, a second administration official said — and his name has been mentioned for a while now, given that Driscoll’s departure by the end of the year was expected. — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Long-standing problems and new barriers are combining to make a career in dietetics less appealing and less financially feasible, just as the nation is increasing its appetite for nutrition in health care. — Lauren Chan, STAT, 1 Sep. 2026 But arriving at your destination without the comforting bouquet of your signature scent—that doesn’t sound very appealing either. — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 There’s something deeply appealing—and charmingly ’80s—about the textures here. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for appealing

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of appeal entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1749, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of appealing was in 1749

Phrases Containing appealing

Rhymes for appealing

See All Rhymes for appealing

Browse Nearby Words

appealer
appealing
appeals court
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Appealing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/appealing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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