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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivating
Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
Travelers can easily spend the entire day exploring these captivating caverns, admiring the mystical stalagmites and stalactites and looking out for wildlife like bats and cougars.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
As for how Cohen managed to so effectively style the Mackage Kent-Glo High-Gloss Hooded Down Jacket — captivating throngs of viewers with his effortless, casual-cool aesthetic?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Adjective
Textured chrome nails elevate any manicure with a multidimensional and captivating allure.
—Omenaa Boakye, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
Travelers can easily spend the entire day exploring these captivating caverns, admiring the mystical stalagmites and stalactites and looking out for wildlife like bats and cougars.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Verb
Even as Bankman-Fried was captivating the crypto industry with spiels about his alleged genius, Yan and his team stayed away, preferring to trade on platforms like Coinbase.
—Ben Weiss, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
As for how Cohen managed to so effectively style the Mackage Kent-Glo High-Gloss Hooded Down Jacket — captivating throngs of viewers with his effortless, casual-cool aesthetic?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
Adjective
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He’s all grown up — and with a stunning football resume of his own — but the cinematic characters of that ’80s dynasty remain no less appealing.—
Daniel Brown,
New York Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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The Raptors likely would try to get the Bucks to accept some combination of RJ Barrett and others, though a Barrett-centric package would be more difficult from a cap standpoint and would seemingly be less appealing to Milwaukee.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Jan. 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
Adjective
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Fascist regimes are also typically organized around a charismatic leader—and form social and political cultures centered on that leader, who is taken to be the violent and powerful protector of the nation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Jan. 2026
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Trump himself is an instantly more charismatic presence on screen.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to Piper, the 2023 Hollywood strikes limited the number of movies released over the last few years, upgraded home entertainment systems enticing consumers to stay home more often and higher prices are among the reasons experts cite for the decline over the last five years.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
24 Jan. 2026
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Oracle boasts a $523 billion cloud contract backlog – huge multi-billion dollar agreements that should be enticing for investors.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Neighborhoods are becoming much more attractive due to winter blossoms from pink tabebuia trees.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
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On the other hand, this contrast with prior Fed picks could make Rieder even more attractive to Trump, who is not shy about busting norms.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Tucked at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe’s remarkable high desert landscapes and enchanting golden light feel almost otherworldly.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Jan. 2026
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At times, partners may have had a special mystique, enchanting you with their powers that may have sucked you in — for the better — or instead, like an addiction.—
Kyle Thomas,
PEOPLE,
4 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Patrick is certainly slick and charming, but his story hardly passes muster.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Its charming white-stone facade is covered with windows, while red brick stacks throw color into the mix.—
Bailey Bujnosek,
InStyle,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The legendary hotelier is also gearing up to open a West Hollywood outpost of Public, an equally seductive hotel brand with a lower price point, later this year.—
Jocelyn Silver,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
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Its seductive chords, its shocking sounds, somehow pierce one’s normal resistance, cutting through snow and ice and whatever else has gummed up one’s works.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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