captivating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
Definition of captivatingnext
as in appealing
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract a captivating performance by the young singing sensation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

captivating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of captivate
as in fascinating
to attract or delight as if by magic the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 captivating
Adjective
She is perhaps best known for her slippery, captivating performance as the psychopathic lead of David Fincher’s 2014 hit Gone Girl. — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 Rarely has nonfiction been this popular, this captivating, or this big a box office draw. — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Verb
Directly mirroring the music video, Yung Lean was flanked by a swath of dancers in school uniforms who rippled through captivating choreography created by Damien Jalet. — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026 So when a charming stranger and his captivating accomplice arrive with an offer too good to refuse, Joe makes a deal that could give both him and his team a second chance. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
  1. appealing
  2. fascinating
  3. charismatic
  4. enticing
  5. attractive
  6. enchanting
  7. charming
  8. seductive
Adjective
  • But his presence, his apparent delight as adults in scuba suits shoot themselves out of helicopters in pursuit of gold, is part of what makes the show so appealing.
    — Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
  • One of the appealing aspects of building an NFL stadium in Inglewood was the speed with which a development agreement could be assembled and approved.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of appealing
Verb
  • From bizarre medical tests to a mass phobia of beans, here are 14 surprising facts that reveal just how inventive, eccentric, and fascinating the ancient Greeks really were.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The trailer promises fascinating new characters, like one man who lives on a sailboat for most of the year.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fascinating
Adjective
  • One thing that struck me about the election is that unlike in past party sweeps — say, the Democrats in 2008 with Obama — there was no central, charismatic figure around which all these House and Senate and local races coalesced.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Four years later, my friends and family living elsewhere were confident that there was no way Texans would choose a toad like Ted Cruz for senator over the radiantly charismatic Beto O’Rourke.
    — Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of charismatic
Verb
  • Chicago lawmakers are reluctant to help the Bears leave the city, which makes long-shot ideas like the Rate Field plan enticing.
    — Robert McCoppin, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Justin Perez, 28, of Springfield, Massachusetts took a plea deal on Monday in Rockville Superior Court, pleading guilty to charges of risk of injury to a minor and enticing a minor, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice.
    — Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of enticing
Adjective
  • With shares well above their October lows, Cramer cautioned that further gains will depend on sustained execution rather than an attractive valuation alone.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Incorporating open shelves in the kitchen helped maximize storage while enabling the designer to showcase more of the home’s attractive chink log siding.
    — Sallie Lewis, Architectural Digest, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of attractive
Verb
  • Even the Owens family’s enchanting New England home, which the internet has spent nearly three decades foaming at the mouth over, is barely seen, as much of the film takes place overseas.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Practical Magic 2 has Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman enchanting a new generation of fans, but not everyone from the original cast returned for the sequel.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of enchanting
Adjective
  • Robertson and Sepulveda play two friends who travel to a remote Italian village to settle a family estate, where their trip spirals into a deadly game of deception at the hands of a charming hunter with a terrifying secret (Armitage).
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The hair was much less polished, but all the more charming and elegant for it.
    — María Diez, Glamour, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of charming
Adjective
  • The rising Slovak star made an impression, leading a troupe of dancers for a seductive performance with all the hallmarks of a wild night down at the Moulin Rouge.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The classic villain has the ability to control plants and often controls people’s minds using seductive pheromones.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of seductive

Browse Nearby Words

captivates
captivating
captivation
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Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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