elfin

adjective

ˈel-fən How to pronounce elfin (audio)
Definition of elfinnext
as in charismatic
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract the heroine in the story has an elfin beauty that men find irresistible

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 elfin Meanwhile, as Hjalmar’s 14-year-old daughter, Hedvig, the elfin Maaike Laanstra-Corn is delivering yet another wonderfully eccentric embodiment of a high-strung tween with a potentially perilous excess of imagination. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2025 Numerous species are commercially available, from the culinary classic common thyme (Thymus vulgaris) to colorful flowering groundcovers such as elfin thyme (Thymus serpyllum) and creeping thyme (Thymus praecox). — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2025 In a series of illustrated stories, Lung describes the Labubu as an elfin creature. — Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 The look is elfin, but less shaggy than an elfish cut, often pulled off with a mod, micro-cut bang instead. — Essence, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for elfin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elfin
  1. charismatic
  2. charming
  3. appealing
  4. attractive
  5. enchanting
  6. seductive
Adjective
  • Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The biopic centers on charismatic auto industry executive Sergio Marchionne, played by Pierfrancesco Favino, who saved Fiat from the brink of bankruptcy.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of charismatic
Adjective
  • The neighborhood/area The fishing village of Conca dei Marini remains a lovely reminder of what this whole coast was once like—sleepy, charming, lost in time.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This season’s star was the Asa Tote, a large flat architectural shape with asymmetric shoulder straps that shined in its simplicity thanks to the contrasting textures, like in the charming canvas and leather version.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of charming
Adjective
  • The therapist suggested that losing curiosity about a partner can sometimes make attention from someone outside the relationship particularly appealing.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Houmt Souk, Tunisia Djerba — the largest island in North Africa — offers an appealing alternative to the archaeological sites and desert landscapes elsewhere in Tunisia.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of appealing
Adjective
  • The Bridgewater Associates founder told CNBC equities have so far weathered the global bond sell-off because earnings growth has kept expected stock returns attractive, relative to bonds.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This is why smaller logistics companies are becoming an attractive alternative to legacy providers.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of attractive
Adjective
  • With changing seasons, Autumn's foliage is an enchanting match for the resort’s large windows and suite patios– where all guests are completely surrounded by the changing colors of the season.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • And Kikuchi, floating through the film on a wave of quiet emotion, creates in its final scene an enchanting portrait of joy.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of enchanting
Adjective
  • In our conspiratorial age, the idea that there are fine, obscure relationships between seemingly disparate things is a thought seductive on the surface but oftentimes shallow underneath.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In a world where an internet search or an AI summary promises an instant answer, there is something seductive about an investigation that requires touching the evidence.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of seductive

Browse Nearby Words

elf
elfin
elfish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elfin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elfin. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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