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
Synonyms
Examples of captivating in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For example, the author’s story about his first new car, a quotidian 1978 Honda Accord, reminds us that a car-person’s life experiences can be utterly captivating irrespective of the marque, its stature, or even its scale.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
Twice per year since the Paris museum opened in March 2022, La Galerie Dior restages its captivating presentation of archive creations, art, objects, and documents, which span Monsieur Dior’s upbringing to collections that bowed mere months ago.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023
Schafer’s latest Marni look certainly is a captivating one.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
Its warm and captivating aroma has garnered attention on TikTok, with users reporting being stopped on the streets to inquire about the fragrance.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
Using unusual metrics in your presentation can also be very captivating.
—Olga Lykova, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Below are just a few fascinating facts about these captivating (if sometimes creepy) creatures.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
As an unusual but captivating star of many blockbusters, and the centerpiece of endless internet memes, Cage has persisted in the cultural zeitgeist in some form or another for several decades, even as his status as an A-list actor has fluctuated.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2023
Throughout the show, the supporting characters, namely Conchita, Patricia, Lizzy and Mabel, have much more captivating storylines, which would have made for an intricately complex narrative should the trio have been sidelined, allowing these ladies to take up additional space.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023
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Robert Ross, Robb Report, 30 Nov. 2023
Twice per year since the Paris museum opened in March 2022, La Galerie Dior restages its captivating presentation of archive creations, art, objects, and documents, which span Monsieur Dior’s upbringing to collections that bowed mere months ago.
—Amy Verner, Vogue, 23 Nov. 2023
Schafer’s latest Marni look certainly is a captivating one.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
Its warm and captivating aroma has garnered attention on TikTok, with users reporting being stopped on the streets to inquire about the fragrance.
—Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023
Using unusual metrics in your presentation can also be very captivating.
—Olga Lykova, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Below are just a few fascinating facts about these captivating (if sometimes creepy) creatures.
—Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2023
As an unusual but captivating star of many blockbusters, and the centerpiece of endless internet memes, Cage has persisted in the cultural zeitgeist in some form or another for several decades, even as his status as an A-list actor has fluctuated.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 7 Nov. 2023
Throughout the show, the supporting characters, namely Conchita, Patricia, Lizzy and Mabel, have much more captivating storylines, which would have made for an intricately complex narrative should the trio have been sidelined, allowing these ladies to take up additional space.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'captivating.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1675, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near captivating
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on captivating
Nglish: Translation of captivating for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of captivating for Arabic Speakers
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