as in appealing
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract
a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of captivating
Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Claudia Cardinale, the Italian movie star known for her captivating performances in The Leopard, 8½, and Once Upon a Time in the West, has died at the age of 87.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
Across the entirety of Patagonia’s Valdivian forests, explorers can encounter captivating birdlife, endemic amphibians and some of the earth’s most fascinating ungulates, many of which are largely ignored in favor of the region’s more imposing animals.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Adjective
Yet the design of it is captivating, and so, in a minor way, is the affection with which the film’s director, Ryan Crego, embraces childhood things.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
Claudia Cardinale, the Italian movie star known for her captivating performances in The Leopard, 8½, and Once Upon a Time in the West, has died at the age of 87.
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
Inspired by museum collections and Art Deco design, the geometry and exactness of bold shapes in earthy tones are captivating.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 10 Sep. 2025
Across the entirety of Patagonia’s Valdivian forests, explorers can encounter captivating birdlife, endemic amphibians and some of the earth’s most fascinating ungulates, many of which are largely ignored in favor of the region’s more imposing animals.
—Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
Adjective
-
Partner at NewVest Ariel Ezrahi In such an environment, expanding retail-facing funds becomes an appealing lever, providing access to fresh money even as the traditional institutional pipeline weakens, private-equity players told CNBC.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
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Ha-Ha-Halloween Song If your toddler is still a tad freaked out by all the skeletons and ghosts appearing around their neighborhood in the form of creepy decorations, and the prospect of dressing up just doesn’t sound appealing, CoComelon can help.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Ideally, the next manager will blend the strengths of his two predecessors while folding in some charismatic confidence that might have helped the Giants limit some of their worst stretches of the season.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean at the height of summer, the erotic thriller follows Calvin Wells (Funk), a charismatic conman who sets his sights on Katrine Winters (Meadow Williams), a mysterious billionaire widow.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While those features are enticing enough for an everyday bra, this option also has a clever feature in the straps.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
21 Sep. 2025
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Because while the perks of his elevated status are enticing, maintaining his dominance is as difficult as establishing it.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
At least one community member during Thursday’s meeting said the timing of government conversations on addressing homelessness locally feels like an attempt to conceal unhoused residents ahead of the World Cup to make KCK more attractive for tourists.—
Sofi Zeman
October 3,
Kansas City Star,
3 Oct. 2025
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In a low-hire, low-fire market with few options for workers — especially those in white-collar industries — health care is becoming an attractive option.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Then the picture begins to blur before coming back into clear focus to reveal Novak, still enchanting at 92, standing in a room filled with her paintings.—
Jeremy Helligar,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There’s a charming bit of irony in watching one of the most prolific and successful producers in the music industry fumble with his audio output.—
Stephen Daw,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
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Catriona, the charming young heiress to a vast oil fortune, and her two year old son Adam, were brutally kidnapped at gunpoint outside a fish and chip shop in Fife.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The Penguins have a fascinating situation on their hands with their 2024 second-round pick.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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The most fascinating of these traits is shown early on, when a journalist interviews Mark after his first triumph.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Once primarily associated with suits and boardroom attire, the slim trouser took on a more seductive and idiosyncratic attitude this season on the runways of trendsetting brands like Prada, Dries Van Noten, and Khaite.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
1 Oct. 2025
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And neither intelligence nor proficiency with technology is a safeguard against the seductive and deceptive aspects of a chatbot.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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