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 of captivating

• appealing
• charismatic
• attractive
• charming
• enchanting
• fascinating
• seductive

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation

Recent Examples on the Web

Such a captivating and mysterious illustration. —Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 11 Dec. 2025

Step inside the museum with these captivating images. —Brittney Melton, NPR, 10 Dec. 2025

Her content is uniquely her — slightly more goofy than her older sister's, but equally as captivating and with confidence building at the forefront. —Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 9 Dec. 2025

Among its many virtues, the product bears Oribe’s signature Côte d’Azur scent, a famously captivating mix of woody and floral notes with citrus from fresh lemon, Calabrian bergamot, and Sicilian orange. —Jenny Berg, Allure, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for captivating

• abdicating
• abrogating
• activating
• actuating
• advocating
• aggravating
• aggregating
• agitating
• allocating
• alternating
• animating
• annotating