Synonym Chooser

How is the word captivate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of captivate are allure, attract, charm, enchant, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

When can allure be used instead of captivate?

In some situations, the words allure and captivate are roughly equivalent. However, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When could attract be used to replace captivate?

The meanings of attract and captivate largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

When would enchant be a good substitute for captivate?

While in some cases nearly identical to captivate, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

When might fascinate be a better fit than captivate?

While the synonyms fascinate and captivate are close in meaning, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of captivate Under the stars, hundreds gather on blankets and folding chairs, some with picnic baskets and bottles of wine, others as passersby who stop, captivated by the 7,000-square-foot screen lighting up the New World Center. Miguel Sirgado, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2025 Whether or not the wolf DNA is entirely accurate, Faris’ story has captivated online audiences. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 McMillon is not the first prominent chief executive to send a warning shot on AI, which has captivated Wall Street and corporate America following the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022. Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025 They’re colloquially referred to as the comedians of the zodiac, captivating everyone around them with their innate humor and magnetic charm. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
  • Known for roles in Breaking Bad and The Mandalorian, Giancarlo admits that antagonists have always fascinated him because of their complexity.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The Dan Marino quotes lining the walls of Hard Rock Stadium fascinated the AD.
    Noah White, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In early September, Jakarta police alleged that some TikTok users purposefully broadcast live during the violence to entice viewers into giving them gifts or virtual prizes that can be exchanged for cash.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 6 Oct. 2025
  • There's something wicked about building horror movies around toys, dolls, and other kid-friendly touchstones; they're bound to entice (and potentially scar) curious young audiences more than usual.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Castlecore Castlecore continues to enchant Pinterest users, blending medieval fantasy with mystical, whimsical elements.
    Elizabeth Fogarty, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2025
  • And to those of you who are new, I'm enchanted to meet you.
    Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • This is the perfect time to update your social platforms, start a podcast or simply charm people with your charming storytelling.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Each is nevertheless charmed by the other, forming a relationship that’s portrayed a bit like an illicit affair.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Spears has been sharing dancing videos on her Instagram account that have delighted some fans and worried others for at least five years.
    Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
  • As if what delights and obsesses us must have a purpose.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The novel opens as the teenage Karl Rossmann, whose parents shipped him off to America for fathering a child when he was seduced by the family’s thirty-five-year-old cook, arrives on a steamer in New York harbor and sees the Statue of Liberty holding not the emblematic torch but rather a sword.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Her distinctive style stance has seduced the likes of Addison Rae, Ice Spice, Kylie Jenner, Hari Nef, Selena Gomez, Hailey Bieber, Chloë Sevigny and Sarah Jessica Parker.
    Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 3 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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