as in fascinates
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivates
Holland, who had important roles in Selma and Moonlight, always captivates.
—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Vancouver, where The Last Of Us films, is one of the host cities of the tournament, which captivates the world’s attention for a month every four years while also disrupting live — including location work — in the cities where the games take place.
—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
The tournament touches and captivates nearly every corner of the globe.
—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Sure, there are several social butterflies across the zodiac—Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, to name a few—but Geminis are famous for their magnetic eccentricity which captivates just about anyone in their orbit.
—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
21 May 2026
But this tiny riverfront town—just over an hour's drive from both New York City and Philadelphia—is the kind of place that captivates.
—
Hannah Howard,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Fascism, then and now, is masterful at propagating and reinforcing its ideas through an aesthetic that captivates a large number of people.
—
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
One of the first big names to sign with Unwell was Earle, who, according to Cooper at the time, has a unique presence that captivates audiences.
—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
According to Abbeville Mayor Jimmy Money, the charm of this blocks-long time capsule captivates visitors year-round.
—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2026
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Vancouver, where The Last Of Us films, is one of the host cities of the tournament, which captivates the world’s attention for a month every four years while also disrupting live — including location work — in the cities where the games take place.
—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 June 2026
The tournament touches and captivates nearly every corner of the globe.
—
Henry Bushnell,
New York Times,
8 June 2026
Sure, there are several social butterflies across the zodiac—Leo, Sagittarius, Aquarius, to name a few—but Geminis are famous for their magnetic eccentricity which captivates just about anyone in their orbit.
—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
21 May 2026
But this tiny riverfront town—just over an hour's drive from both New York City and Philadelphia—is the kind of place that captivates.
—
Hannah Howard,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Fascism, then and now, is masterful at propagating and reinforcing its ideas through an aesthetic that captivates a large number of people.
—
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
One of the first big names to sign with Unwell was Earle, who, according to Cooper at the time, has a unique presence that captivates audiences.
—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
According to Abbeville Mayor Jimmy Money, the charm of this blocks-long time capsule captivates visitors year-round.
—
Jennifer Stewart Kornegay,
Southern Living,
8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivates
Verb
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There is something magical about a firefly that fascinates young and old alike.
-
There is something about the play Harvey that fascinates me, especially for right now.
Verb
-
Named for the English resort city of Bath, Bath County entices visitors to slow down and connect with nature.
-
In a European women’s football ecosystem that still relies predominantly on the beneficence of men’s football, Kang’s bullishness to put her money where her mouth is naturally entices.
Verb
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Allegheny National Forest, just around 90 minutes from Erie, Pennsylvania, enchants with rolling peaks that reflect off calm, paddle-friendly waterways.
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Ella has shades of Holly Hunter's intense, workaholic producer Jane from Brooks' 1987 masterpiece Broadcast News, the smartest person in any room who both exhausts and enchants everyone around her.
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.
-
Say yes to learning that delights your spirit.
Verb
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Intrigued, the Duke secretly seduces Gilda, breaks her heart and destroys Rigoletto’s life.
-
The victim of his sacrifice is Gretchen, a virgin whom Faust seduces and abandons in his devilish reverie, and who kills their illegitimate child.
Cite this Entry
“Captivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivates. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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