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 Take a stroll through the magenta hallways with sculptures and insanely cool photography, then step into the living room where the views captivate and the kaleidoscopic furniture lifts spirits. Tj MacIas, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 The Toronto Blue Jays are headed to the World Series, riding the momentum of a postseason run that has captivated fans across Canada. Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025 An outpouring of support for the ex-president Sarkozy's journey from the presidential Elysée Palace to La Santé prison has captivated France. FOXNews.com, 21 Oct. 2025 But the couple have yet to conceive an heir, so when Jerome absconds and his dashing friend Manfred (Galitzine) arrives with dastardly intentions, Hero (Corrin), Cherry’s wily and loyal maid, is forced to concoct a plan to distract Manfred by telling captivating stories about rebellious women. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
  • Throughout that time, Frédéric Boucheron was fascinated by the natural world — a passion Poulit‑Duquesne and Choisne continue today, visible in collections featuring feather motifs, fluid forms and other designs.
    Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • It’s set in the early 80s, which is a period that fascinates me.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Africa’s leading banking groups are targeting DR Congo, enticed by one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies and the promise of a lucrative mining sector, despite the ongoing conflict in the country’s east.
    Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • And if Washington signed a trade deal with Pretoria, American officials might entice South Africa to work with the United States on its diplomatic efforts across the African continent.
    Richard Fontaine, Foreign Affairs, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Those wishes came true in September 2022, when the sorceress siblings reunited to enchant a new generation of Halloweeners in Disney+’s Hocus Pocus 2.
    Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Often simply referred to as Oaxaca (not to be confused with the surrounding state of the same name), the city enchants with its colorful festivals, artisanal markets, and striking architecture.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But despite his entreaties, including meeting with Putin in Alaska, floating sanctions relief, and threatening to cut off aid to Kyiv, the Russian president has refused to be charmed into giving up on his invasion.
    Mira Rapp-Hooper, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Viewers were instantly charmed.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • With just 24 hours before a party, 31-year-old Maïlys Lecaillier from Pas-de-Calais transformed everyday items into a hilariously lifelike ostrich costume that’s now delighting TikTok.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • The adorable video has delighted internet users, and it’s gone viral with over 375,500 views and more than 72,000 likes at the time of writing.
    Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • When they are named, the aim is to seduce with a touch of whimsy and decadence.
    Joel Hart, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Meanwhile, a manipulative judge, Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock), lurks around the fringes, hoping to seduce or even blackmail the electrically attractive Hedda.
    Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on captivate

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