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
This 6,500-square-mile wilderness full of predators and giant dunes feels post-apocalyptic and yields photos just as raw and captivating.
—Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
Some of their most captivating dishes are the result of complete acts of wildness, with many racing from idea to fruition in the hours before service.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Chris Pratt stars as an ordinary LEGO guy who finds himself on an extraordinary journey in a film that’s really about the power of the imagination, distilling the creative joy of playing with LEGOs into a captivating story.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
What followed was one of the most signature at-bats in World Series history, as Rojas recently recounted, pitch-by-captivating-pitch, with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
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Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
Some of their most captivating dishes are the result of complete acts of wildness, with many racing from idea to fruition in the hours before service.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Chris Pratt stars as an ordinary LEGO guy who finds himself on an extraordinary journey in a film that’s really about the power of the imagination, distilling the creative joy of playing with LEGOs into a captivating story.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 5 Mar. 2026
What followed was one of the most signature at-bats in World Series history, as Rojas recently recounted, pitch-by-captivating-pitch, with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
—Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 4 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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