beguile

verb

be·guile bi-ˈgī(-ə)l

bē-

beguiled; beguiling

Synonyms of beguile

transitive verb

: hoodwink

beguiled her classmates into doing the work for her

: to engage the interest of by or as if by guile

His seductive voice beguiled the audience.

: to lead by deception

beguiled into ambush

: to while away especially by some agreeable occupation

also : divert sense 2

The seven poems were written to beguile the tedium of a sea voyage. —Vernon Louis Parrington

intransitive verb

: to deceive by wiles

had intended to beguile

beguilement

bi-ˈgī(-ə)l-mənt

bē-

noun

beguiler

bi-ˈgī-lər

bē-

noun

Did you know?

A number of English words have traveled a rather curious path from meanings related to deception or trickery to something less unwelcome. A prime example is beguile, which first appeared in English around the 13th century with the meaning “to lead or draw by deception.” For the next several centuries, most of the senses of the verb had to do, in one manner or another, with deceiving. Around the time of Shakespeare, however, a more appealing sense charmed its way into the English language and hasn’t left since: “to attract or interest someone,” or in other words, “to charm.” Nowadays, you’re just as likely to hear beguile applied to someone who woos an audience with charisma, as to a wily trickster who hoodwinks others to get their way.

Choose the Right Synonym for beguile

deceive, mislead, delude, beguile mean to lead astray or frustrate usually by underhandedness.

deceive implies imposing a false idea or belief that causes ignorance, bewilderment, or helplessness.

tried to deceive me about the cost

mislead implies a leading astray that may or may not be intentional.

I was misled by the confusing sign

delude implies deceiving so thoroughly as to obscure the truth.

we were deluded into thinking we were safe

beguile stresses the use of charm and persuasion in deceiving.

was beguiled by false promises

Examples of beguile in a Sentence

She was cunning enough to beguile her classmates into doing the work for her. They were beguiled into thinking they'd heard the whole story. Almost everything in the quaint little town beguiles, from its architecture to its art to its people. He beguiled the audience with his smooth and seductive voice.

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.

Based on the Lee Child novels and developed by Nick Santora, Reacher is the kind of series that exemplifies the sleight of hand the TV medium does best, beguiling with one set of beckoning fingers while smuggling complex propaganda with the other. —Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 20 Feb. 2025 One is a siren, the human-like creature with an enchanting voice that beguiled sailors to their watery death. —Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025 Traveling across the floor on pointe shoes, Ito beguiles with every gesture, beckoning Ataide with graceful fingers, her pointed nails painted with black polish. —Marcia Luttrell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025 This is how Los Angeles beguiles us and sustains us. —Shawn Hubler, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beguile

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bigilen, beguilen, from bi-, be- be- + gile guile or gilen "to deceive, cheat," borrowed from Old French guiler, derivative of guile

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Time Traveler

The first known use of beguile was in the 13th century

See more words from the same century