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

Below, find eight of the most captivating golf WAGs to watch. —Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 12 Apr. 2026

Royal weddings are always a captivating spectacle. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Apr. 2026

Watching a prodigy embarrass the world over 72 holes was riveting; equally captivating is following the same person be exposed by life, hubris and ego. —Mac Engel april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026

There's an edge to her that's instantly captivating, and the sincere doubts that Adlon's voice work delivers sell plot beats that could be eyebrow-raising with a lesser performance. —Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 6 Apr. 2026

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