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

• 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

The duo's bizarre and captivating characters would be a unique addition to the WWE's tag team division, particularly on the NXT brand, which has a history of embracing more theatrical and character-driven acts. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025

For non-golfers, the lighthouse and castle are the most captivating elements of the property. —Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Góra gives a complex, internal performance that is both captivating and mysterious. —Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025

Oz aired for six seasons, establishing HBO as a home for serious adult dramas, and establishing Winters’s screen image, as well — that captivating blend of menace and vulnerability. —Nate Jones, Vulture, 5 Sep. 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