ENCHANT Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'enchant' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of enchant are allure , attract , captivate , charm , and fascinate . While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject. // hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Q: Where would 'allure' be a reasonable alternative to 'enchant'?

The synonyms allure and enchant are sometimes interchangeable, but allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive. // an alluring smile

Q: When is 'attract' a more appropriate choice than 'enchant'?

The meanings of attract and enchant largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another. // students attracted by the school's locale

Q: How do 'charm' and 'captivate' relate to one another, in the sense of 'enchant'?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate , suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration. // charmed by their hospitality // her performances captivated audiences

Q: In what contexts can 'fascinate' take the place of 'enchant'?

The words fascinate and enchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist. // a story that continues to fascinate children

enchant

verb

in-ˈchant

Definition of enchant

as in to fascinate

to attract or delight as if by magic the child actress enchanted audiences with her bubbly personality

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to possess

to cast a spell on out of spite, the jealous queen enchanted her chief rival for the title of the fairest one of all

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

bless

as in to hypnotize

to hold the attention of as if by a spell the tales about the young wizard have enchanted children around the globe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word enchant different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of enchant are allure, attract, captivate, charm, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Where would allure be a reasonable alternative to enchant?

The synonyms allure and enchant are sometimes interchangeable, but allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When is attract a more appropriate choice than enchant?

The meanings of attract and enchant largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

How do charm and captivate relate to one another, in the sense of enchant?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality

her performances captivated audiences

In what contexts can fascinate take the place of enchant?

The words fascinate and enchant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of enchant Carol is alternately enchanted and frustrated by her husband’s innocence and altruism, which led him to his not particularly remunerative career as an interpreter. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 July 2026 Generations of visitors to the Okefenokee Swamp have been enchanted by its rich wildlife, black waters and cypress trees draped in Spanish moss. — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 20 July 2026 Clark’s Elioak Farm, at 10600 Clarksville Pike, has a lot to offer in addition to its Enchanted Forest features that have truly enchanted kids for decades. — Janet Kusterer, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026 Theron plays the nymph Calypso, who keeps Odysseus enchanted on her island for seven years. — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for enchant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for enchant

Verb

In a California town called Anzar in the late-19th century, Paulette is living with a local magnate’s eccentric son who’s fascinated by the tramps gathering outside his manor.

— Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
Here are four more scammers who fascinated people on the internet – plus one who people thought was a scammer but turned out not to be.

— Owen Carry, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of fascinate

Verb

Eisenhower possessed iron discipline, sunny self-confidence and a mind that loved organizational challenges.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Ticket sales Assembly Bill 1349 would prohibit sellers from offering or marketing tickets to concerts and sporting events by a person that doesn’t actually possess the ticket.

— Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of possess

Verb

Among those charmed over time was Kurt Cobain, who called their 1969 debut Philosophy of the World his fifth-favorite album.

— Steve Hochman, SPIN, 31 Aug. 2026
His charmed early life and promising political career were slowed, but not halted, when he was stricken with polio in his late 30s.

— John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of charm

Verb

The high-concept thriller stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as a demonic character called The Stranger, who entices a young mother played by Jasmine Trinca into forging a Faustian pact.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
All of this casts doubt on whether the event will pull the kind of star power that entices TV networks to break their regular prime-time programming and compel viewers to skip an NFL game to tune in.

— Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of entice

Verb

Even sequels and prequels — say, those in the Star Wars canon — ideally aspire to a degree of self-sufficiency in which the audience can discern the story and, properly bewitched, can proceed to seek out the other movies.

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
For birdwatching in colder climates, the Highlands of Scotland are endlessly bewitching.

— Lydia Swinscoe, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of bewitch

Verb

In the last two months, New York City’s Radio City Music Hall hosted two ‘80s British music triple bills that delighted fans of the golden MTV era.

— David Chiu, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
This is a prospect that particularly delights Lady Eliza Spencer, Princess Diana’s niece and Prince Harry’s cousin.

— Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of delight

Browse Nearby Words

enchains

enchant

enchanted

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“Enchant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/enchant. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of enchant

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