captivated
adjective
cap·ti·vat·ed
ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-təd 
: having one's interest or attention held or captured by something or someone charming, beautiful, entertaining, etc.
The captivated audience oohed and aahed as colorful patterns emerged on an overhead screen …—
Jean Hennelly Keith
Jean Hennelly KeithAt dinner, Wayne keeps the conversation smooth, like a captivated courtier seeking Neil's mother's hand.—David Leavitt
David LeavittExamples of captivated in a Sentence
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Celebrities and artists — particularly actresses — would come to reinvent how fashion captivated culture and commerce.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 19 Jan. 2026
In a case that both captivated and horrified the nation, details surrounding the brutality of Kohberger’s crimes quickly spread throughout social media as the Idaho community braced for a headline-grabbing trial, set for the fall of 2025.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Newspapers seized on the phrase as readers became captivated by the mystery.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Soon, DiRusso had a devoted, captivated audience built almost entirely online who saw her music as a joyous and off-kilter mirror to their own lives.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
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Matt Donnelly, Variety, 19 Jan. 2026
In a case that both captivated and horrified the nation, details surrounding the brutality of Kohberger’s crimes quickly spread throughout social media as the Idaho community braced for a headline-grabbing trial, set for the fall of 2025.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Newspapers seized on the phrase as readers became captivated by the mystery.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Soon, DiRusso had a devoted, captivated audience built almost entirely online who saw her music as a joyous and off-kilter mirror to their own lives.
—Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 19 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivated
Cite this Entry
“Captivated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivated. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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