captivating
adjective
cap·ti·vat·ing
ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ 
: charmingly or irresistibly appealing
a captivating aroma
It's an utterly exotic combination of flavors, and a completely captivating one.—
Howard Seftel
Howard SeftelBooks with captivating stories and bright, uncomplicated artwork will enchant the very young without being too demanding.—Ed Zotti
Ed ZottiA 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
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
Mimi Elder
Examples of captivating in a Sentence
a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
Yet season four’s most captivating moment arguably came from what CG Animation Director Ryan Donoghue calls the grand farewell to Chaos Theory’s dinosaur ensemble — a battle staged outside that clinic featuring three tyrannosaurus rexes and five junior velociraptors.
—Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026
Like some of the best inspirational movies, Lionheart weaves a captivating portrait with threads of loyalty, loss, and heartbreak.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
There are countless paths to take in this natural wonderland — each rewarding and captivating in their own way.
—South Seas, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
But the book proved to be far more unpredictable and captivating than that, and also so funny, so full of pathos.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
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Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026
Like some of the best inspirational movies, Lionheart weaves a captivating portrait with threads of loyalty, loss, and heartbreak.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Jan. 2026
There are countless paths to take in this natural wonderland — each rewarding and captivating in their own way.
—South Seas, Miami Herald, 31 Dec. 2025
But the book proved to be far more unpredictable and captivating than that, and also so funny, so full of pathos.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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