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

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

Synonyms

• alluring
• appealing
• attractive
• bewitching
• charismatic
• charming
• elfin
• enchanting
• engaging
• entrancing
• fascinating
• fetching
• glamorous
• glamourous
• luring
• magnetic
• seductive

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sure, the superstar — or highly suspect immune cell — is captivating, but viewers could miss important plays elsewhere on the court. —Isabella Cueto, STAT, 27 Mar. 2024

All homes in Bristol Highlands are situated within a few steps of beautiful greenspaces where residents can enjoy the captivating views. —Weichert Realtors® Welch & Company, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2024

The result was captivating — so much so that Nosferatu persisted as a cult film even after a judge ordered all copies to be destroyed in a copyright dispute with the Stoker estate. —Katie Rife, EW.com, 12 Mar. 2024

While her performance was undeniably captivating, the potential of Lily Gladstone being the first Native American to win best actress left many reflecting on what might have been, had campaign strategies been different. —Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Mar. 2024

The flavor is captivating, as appealing as green enchiladas. —Sarah Mosqueda, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2024

The museum showcases a captivating collection of Japanese art and artifacts, providing insight into the rich tapestry of Japanese history and heritage. 14. —Jp Shaffer, Miami Herald, 3 Apr. 2024

The bleak German sci-fi series begins in the modern era with a concerned town searching for missing children, but a nearby wormhole brings in some time travel elements that make everything more complex and captivating. —Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 2 Apr. 2024

Indeed has a solution for job-seekers, too, offering an AI tool that will generate a fluid and captivating work-history summary for candidates, while also improving options to apply with a single click. —Irina Ivanova, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above