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
as in fascinating
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivating
Kara Nesvig, Allure, 18 May 2026
Carns, 46, has a captivating personal story that could attract support among the different factions within Labour.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2026
The maneuver, expected for today (May 15) marks a crucial moment in the Psyche's six-year voyage through space to a captivating asteroid of the same name.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Adjective
Bella Hadid and the Cannes Film Festival are practically forever linked at this point; the model always makes a captivating, memorable appearance at the French fest, and her 2026 installment was no different.
—Kara Nesvig, Allure, 18 May 2026
Carns, 46, has a captivating personal story that could attract support among the different factions within Labour.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Verb
Much of the film’s captivating power is thanks to Norwegian singer-songwriter-producer Marie Ulven (also known as Girl in Red in music circles), playing Maja, a young musician who seems to have reached cult status online, perhaps a little too early in life.
—Tomris Laffly, Variety, 19 May 2026
The maneuver, expected for today (May 15) marks a crucial moment in the Psyche's six-year voyage through space to a captivating asteroid of the same name.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
Adjective
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This decision unfortunately led to more jokes and tongue planted firmly in cheek (akin to the slapstick reshooting of Superman II by Richard Lester for a more child-appealing and less ambitious approach than Richard Donner’s own Superman II footage before he was fired from the project).—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
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While the image of oysters on a sunny summer patio is appealing, Jackson says the best ones come from late October through March, when the water is at its coldest.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Travel + Leisure,
30 May 2026
Verb
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Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Ryan Fitzpatrick had the same kind of impact on that dismal 2019 Dolphins team, which might not have won any of its five games that season without the charismatic quarterback, who had a knack for uniting and inspiring people.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
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Inspired by Michael Pollan’s books, Angus stepped out of his London stockbroker brogues and into the role of charismatic, barefoot ‘Farmer Angus’; a passionate espouser of biodynamic farming principles, destined to become a household name.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Verb
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The Woodland Police Department alerted residents of a scam artist pretending to be a law enforcement officer, enticing the victim with official-looking documents.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
20 May 2026
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The potential free-agency solutions don’t seem enticing at this point, either.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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And as if managing the spotlight and headlines weren’t enough, Austin trips and falls right in front of Diego Cruz, his attractive, flirty rival.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
30 May 2026
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Logistics, in particular, has become an attractive sector for deployment.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
30 May 2026
Verb
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The rookie showman is proving his mettle as part of the Caballero Circus, a five-generation family of performers, by enchanting audiences with his charismatic stage presence and sharp coordination.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
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That studio bosses of today don’t care about enchanting audiences.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Rhoda, so likable and charming and unassuming, looked embarrassed to be accepting praise for what was entirely Sherry’s dish, which made Sherry justifiably angry.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
28 May 2026
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The charming star hockey player is 20 in Kennedy’s 2015 book The Mistake.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Adjective
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Against the photographic realism of Paglen and Burtynsky, a sleeker subset of work risks rendering seductive that which ought to disturb us.—
Emily Watlington,
ARTnews.com,
24 May 2026
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Now some of the most powerful people in tech are offering a seductive solution.—
Clay Routledge,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 2 Jun. 2026.
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