Appealing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ə-ˈpē-liŋ/ ap·peal·ing

Meaning & Definition of Appealing

Appealing (adjective)

  1. having appeal, pleasing
  2. marked by earnest entreaty, imploring

Appealing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having an often mysterious or magical power to attract

    "the idea of living on Mars is appealing to space enthusiasts"

    similar: alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, luring, magnetic, seductive
    related: absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, enticing, tantalizing, tempting, exciting, haunting, interesting, intriguing, titillating, beckoning, inviting, winning, darling, delightful, pleasant, pleasing
    opposite: repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring
    near: boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening, drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous

Appealing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in citing, booking

    similar: arraigning, booking, citing, summoning, accusing, charging, criminating, defaming (archaic), impeaching, incriminating, indicting, blaming, calling (on), castigating, censuring, condemning, criticizing, damning, denouncing, faulting, impugning, reproaching, reprobating, chiding, rebuking, reproving, taxing, prosecuting, suing, trying, framing, implicating, inculpating, informing (against), naming, reporting, recriminating, retaliating
    opposite: advocating, championing, defending, excusing, forgiving, justifying, pardoning, remitting, shriving, absolving, acquitting, clearing, exculpating, exonerating, vindicating

Related Entry: Appeal (to) (verb)

Appeal (to) is a different word from Appealing. The synonyms below are for appeal (to), not for appealing.

  1. to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner

    "when supplies at the food bank ran desperately low, officials appealed to the public for some much-needed replacements"

    similar: beg, beseech, besiege, conjure, entreat, impetrate, implore, importune, petition, plead (to), pray, solicit, supplicate, call on
    related: bludge (chiefly Australian & New Zealand), cadge, mooch, sponge, ask, desire, invoke, request, claim, coerce, command, compel, demand, force, insist, require
    near: hint, imply, intimate, suggest, appease, conciliate, gratify, mollify, oblige, pacify, placate, please, satisfy, comfort, console, content, quiet

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Appealing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Appealing:

Archaic: defaming
alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, luring, magnetic, seductive, arraigning, booking, citing, summoning, accusing, charging, criminating, impeaching, incriminating, indicting, blaming, calling (on), castigating, censuring, condemning, criticizing, damning, denouncing, faulting, impugning, reproaching, reprobating, chiding, rebuking

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Appealing

Words with the opposite meaning of Appealing:

repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring, advocating, championing, defending, excusing, forgiving, justifying, pardoning, remitting, shriving, absolving, acquitting, clearing, exculpating, exonerating, vindicating

Related Words for Appealing

absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, enticing, tantalizing, tempting, exciting, haunting, interesting, intriguing, titillating, beckoning, inviting, winning, darling, delightful, pleasant, pleasing

Near Antonyms of Appealing

boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening, drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden

Word Forms of Appealing

Derived words: appealingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Appealing

from present participle of appeal:2

First known use: 1749

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Appealing

Words & Phrases Containing Appealing

find appealing

Frequently Asked Questions about Appealing

What does "Appealing" mean?

"Appealing" means having appeal, pleasing. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: having appeal, pleasing. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Appealing"?

Other words for "Appealing" include alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin and enchanting. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Appealing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Appealing"?

There are 80 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Appealing". Common alternatives include alluring, attractive, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging and entrancing.

What is the opposite of "Appealing"?

Antonyms of "Appealing" include repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring, advocating and championing. Near antonyms include boring, irksome, tedious and tiresome.

How do you use "Appealing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Appealing" in a sentence: "the idea of living on Mars is appealing to space enthusiasts".

Is "Appealing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Appealing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Appealing" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Appealing" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Appealing"?

"Appealing" is pronounced /ə-ˈpē-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as ap·peal·ing.