beguilingly
gb/bˈɛɡˈulɪŋli/ us/bˈɛɡˈulɪŋli/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adverb
literary
C1
property
1
in a charming, attractive way
In a very charming or attractive way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] smiles/speaks/laughs beguilingly; beguilingly + [adjective]
Common mistake:
Learners may use it like an adjective (e.g., *a beguilingly man*). Use it as an adverb: *a beguiling man* or *he smiled beguilingly*.
Synonyms
charmingly (More direct and common; less suggestive of influence over someone.)
|
captivatingly (Emphasizes holding attention strongly.)
|
alluringly (Often suggests romantic or sensual attraction.)
|
winsomely (Suggests a sweet, appealing manner.)
Antonyms
unattractively (Opposite in appeal or charm.)
|
off-puttingly (Emphasizes causing dislike or discomfort.)
Collocations
smile beguilingly
|speak beguilingly
|laugh beguilingly
|beguilingly beautiful
|beguilingly charming
|beguilingly handsome
|beguilingly friendly
|beguilingly warm
|beguilingly elegant
|beguilingly graceful
Themes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
|aesthetics
Examples
- He spoke beguilingly, and the whole room leaned in to listen.
- The village looked beguilingly peaceful in the evening light.
- She gave a beguilingly warm smile that put everyone at ease.
Learner examples
- She smiled beguilingly.
- The music played beguilingly softly.
adverb
formal
C1
property
2
in a deceptively appealing way
In a way that looks good or easy, but is not really.
Usage pattern:
beguilingly + [adjective] (e.g., simple, easy, calm, straightforward)
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse with 'beautifully' or 'nicely' in neutral descriptions; this sense often implies the appearance is misleading.
Synonyms
deceptively (Most direct synonym; focuses on misleading appearance.)
|
misleadingly (More explicit about causing the wrong impression.)
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seductively (Highlights temptation or persuasive pull, often with risk.)
Antonyms
plainly (Opposite in not disguising complexity or risk.)
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straightforwardly (Opposite in being direct and not misleading.)
Collocations
beguilingly simple
|beguilingly easy
|beguilingly straightforward
|beguilingly calm
|beguilingly innocent
|beguilingly plausible
|beguilingly clear
|beguilingly modest
|beguilingly quiet
|beguilingly smooth
Themes
deception
|judgment
|communication
|business
Examples
- The interface is beguilingly simple, but the settings are surprisingly complex.
- Her explanation sounded beguilingly reasonable, yet it left out key facts.
- The road looked beguilingly safe until the weather turned.
Learner examples
- The task seems beguilingly easy.
- His story was beguilingly convincing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
beguilingly
IPA
GB/bˈɛɡˈulɪŋli/
US/bˈɛɡˈulɪŋli/
Syllables & stress
be - guil - ingly (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (be)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: beguilingly
- Plural: beguilinglies
Word family
Forms
beguilinglies
noun
Core family
beguile
verb
beguiling
adjective C1
Related words
guile
noun
Negative and opposite forms
guileless
adjective
Expressions
beguilingly easy
1/bˈɛɡˈulɪŋli ˈizi/
fixed phrase
formal
seems easy but isn’t
It looks easy, but it is not really easy.
Examples
- The routine looks beguilingly easy until you try it at full speed.
- The app makes editing video beguilingly easy, but mastering it takes practice.
- It can be beguilingly easy to miss small errors when you’re tired.
beguilingly simple
1/bˈɛɡˈulɪŋli sˈɪmpəl/
fixed phrase
formal
seems simple but isn’t
It looks very simple, but it’s harder than it looks.
Examples
- It’s a beguilingly simple idea that takes real skill to execute.
- The instructions are beguilingly simple, but the process is time-consuming.
- The model uses a beguilingly simple rule to explain the data.