as in fascinates
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
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Recent Examples of captivates
His athleticism captivates even the untrained eye, as if he were engineered to fly in skates.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Her regal stoicism along with her kind, empathetic, reassuring demeanor is the perfect mix that captivates Royal fans globally.
—Janelle Ash , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Its rich blend captivates the senses and leaves a lasting impression.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Traveling to the Real Unreal Universe in Grapevine, this family-friendly multiverse captivates guests with lush tapestries and imaginary swamp-suburban realms.
—Malik Peay, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Simtec's unparalleled expertise perfectly complements our mission to create an entertainment experience that pushes boundaries and captivates ride-goers worldwide.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
With humor, drama, and unlikely heroes, Rickey’s quest for redemption captivates the nation.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Inspired by the tradition of the divine feminine, the energetic space captivates with colors, abstract wall art and a goddess sculpture done by the dynamic sister artist duo’s mother.
—Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Her regal stoicism along with her kind, empathetic, reassuring demeanor is the perfect mix that captivates Royal fans globally.
—Janelle Ash , Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 1 Jan. 2026
Its rich blend captivates the senses and leaves a lasting impression.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Traveling to the Real Unreal Universe in Grapevine, this family-friendly multiverse captivates guests with lush tapestries and imaginary swamp-suburban realms.
—Malik Peay, USA Today, 10 Dec. 2025
Simtec's unparalleled expertise perfectly complements our mission to create an entertainment experience that pushes boundaries and captivates ride-goers worldwide.
—Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025
With humor, drama, and unlikely heroes, Rickey’s quest for redemption captivates the nation.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025
Blue Film provokes and captivates in equal measure, with the naked honesty of a black box off-off-Broadway play.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
Inspired by the tradition of the divine feminine, the energetic space captivates with colors, abstract wall art and a goddess sculpture done by the dynamic sister artist duo’s mother.
—Spencer Whaley, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivates
Verb
-
Then there’s the story of life, which also really fascinates me.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
-
Kafka’s work still fascinates readers — like Polish filmmaking legend Holland.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
With showy wine-red blossoms that perfume the garden with the distinctive aromas of chocolate and vanilla from mid-summer through fall, chocolate cosmos entices butterflies and curious gardeners alike.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
The structure is illustrated below, with one player positioned on the byline and another level with the penalty area to form a triangle that entices opponents out to defend.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The sun was in Scorpio, presenting an enigmatic film that enchants others.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
28 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
-
SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Every year, the actor surprises and delights us with her choice of costume, paying homage to Pamela Anderson one year and channeling Queen Amidala the next.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Everything about the scene seduces the viewer into what dining while traveling in the most luxurious fashion could be, and once was.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
-
In his youth, the blue-eyed Stamp was widely considered one of the most handsome men onscreen, and Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini used that to peculiar effect in Teorema (1968), casting the actor as a nameless and wordless visitor who seduces an entire household.—
Rhett Bartlett,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captivates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivates. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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