different between attractive vs pleasing

English

Etymology

From Middle French attractif, from Late Latin attractivus.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??t?ækt?v/
• Rhymes: -ækt?v

Adjective

attractive (comparative more attractive, superlative most attractive)

1. Causing attraction; having the quality of attracting by inherent force.
2. Having the power of charming or alluring by agreeable qualities; enticing.

   That's a very attractive offer.

3. Pleasing or appealing to the senses, especially of the opposite sex.

   He is an attractive fellow with a trim figure.

Synonyms

• (causing attraction): magnetic
• (having the ability to charm): See Thesaurus:attractive
• (pleasing or appealing to the senses): See Thesaurus:beautiful

Antonyms

• (having the power of charming): repulsive, ugly
• (pleasing or appealing to the senses): repulsive, ugly
• unattractive

Hyponyms

Related terms

Translations

References

• attractive on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• attractive in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• attractive in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /a.t?ak.tiv/

Adjective

attractive

1. feminine singular of attractif

Latin

Adjective

attract?ve

1. vocative masculine singular of attract?vus

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?pli?z??/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?pliz??/
• Rhymes: -i?z??

Etymology 1

From Middle English plesynge, pleizinge, plesende (present participle), equivalent to please +? -ing.

Adjective

pleasing (comparative more pleasing, superlative most pleasing)

1. Agreeable; giving pleasure, cheer, enjoyment or gratification.

Synonyms

• enjoyable
• gratifying
• satisfying

Derived terms

• pleasing fungus beetle

Related terms

Translations

Verb

pleasing

1. present participle of please.

Etymology 2

From Middle English plesing, plesinge (“satisfaction; pleasing”), equivalent to please +? -ing.

Noun

pleasing (countable and uncountable, plural pleasings)

1. pleasure or satisfaction, as in the phrase "to my pleasing."
   • a. 1677, Isaac Barrow, The Passion of our Blessed Saviour (sermon)

     What more palpable confutation can there be of human vanity and arrogance, of all lofty imaginations, all presumptuous confidences, all turgid humours, all fond self-pleasings and self-admirings, than is that tragical cross […]

Anagrams

• apelings, elapsing, leapings, pealings