The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 14 letter word ELECTROMAGNETS
E
L
E
C
T
R
O
M
A
G
N
E
T
S
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "they can be attractive" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case they can be attractive = electromagnets.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ELECTROMAGNETS mean?
ELECTROMAGNETS noun- A magnet which attracts metals only when electrically activated