captivating

adjective

cap·​ti·​vat·​ing ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
: 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

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Of the home’s nine bathrooms, the primary bath is the most captivating with decorative stone flooring and cadet grey hues that come together in a spa-like atmosphere. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 5 Feb. 2025 From the celebrity presenters to the captivating performances and winners' speeches, PEOPLE covered the Grammys live on Sunday, Feb. 2 By Lindsay Kimble 10 Comments Music's biggest stars just got their flowers — and their golden gramophones. Lindsay Kimble, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025 Capsule: First Nations singer, pianist and composer Jeremy Dutcher gave a captivating performance as part of the Great Northern Festival. Sheila Regan, Twin Cities, 27 Jan. 2025 Cast: Shirley Chen, McKenna Grace, Vivian Wu, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Amelie Zilber, Fang Du, Elaine Hendrix, Keith Harris (World Premiere) DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION World premieres of captivating, real stories by emerging voices. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for captivating 

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivating was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near captivating

Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

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