captivating

adjective

cap·​ti·​vat·​ing ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
: charmingly or irresistibly appealing
a captivating aroma
It's an utterly exotic combination of flavors, and a completely captivating one.Howard Seftel
Books with captivating stories and bright, uncomplicated artwork will enchant the very young without being too demanding.Ed Zotti
A captivating storyteller, he conveys the cozy domesticity of the small-time growers as well as the Technicolor style of life of the big deal-makers.Alison Friesinger
captivatingly adverb
a captivatingly sweet voice
Each room is named for a month, and January through December are captivatingly filled with fanciful hearts, flowers, and vines that trail over the beds, chests, and wardrobes. Mimi Elder

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
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.
Probably that the music was loud and captivating, the jorts funny and irreverent, and the house itself accommodating but desperately lacking food of some kind. Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 4 Aug. 2025 Here, guests will meet their dedicated trackers to embark on a captivating nature drive, keeping a keen eye out for desert elephants, oryx, zebra and springbok. Emese MacZko, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 Folk Rock Since the twenty-tens, the L.A. folk-rock band Lord Huron has offered a captivating take on Americana, filled with vagabonds and pariahs hoping to avoid haunted afterlives. Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 25 July 2025 The show gave captivating insight into the warring brain trust that nudged Ozzy back to greatness whenever his star dulled and his confidence dimmed. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 25 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivating

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivating was in 1675

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Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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