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
Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
In addition to their sheer radiance, auroras are especially captivating because of their unpredictability.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Anyway, none of this is captivating enough for Boehly, who had to be reminded to look interested as Chelsea searched for a late winner against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Adjective
Different instruments are used to represent Peter, his animal friends and the wolf in this captivating work that includes a narrated story.
—Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2025
In addition to their sheer radiance, auroras are especially captivating because of their unpredictability.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
Soon, the project had spread across social media platforms, captivating strangers across the globe.
—Ashley Vega, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Anyway, none of this is captivating enough for Boehly, who had to be reminded to look interested as Chelsea searched for a late winner against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
Adjective
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So instead of railing against technology, they’re focused on making the physical world as accessible and appealing as possible.—
Charlotte Alter,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
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Here are the 12 features homebuyers are searching for, and what rooms are most appealing to potentially sell your home fast and boost your property value.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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My brother was a poet, classics scholar, and charismatic leader of nerds who blossomed into a handsome surfer and then nosedived into schizophrenia and a life of unfiltered Camel cigarettes, caffeine, and antipsychotics.—
Kim Gordon,
Rolling Stone,
3 Sep. 2025
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Isaac’s charismatic presence holds the tentacles of Nick’s story together.—
Caryn James,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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There are tons of enticing cold and hot drinks.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Sep. 2025
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The company, which started in 1947 in Conecuh County, Alabama, has a potent combination of enticing hickory smoke and a patented blend of seasonings that set their products apart from the usual offerings in the grocery-store meat case.—
Libby Monteith Minor,
Southern Living,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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They can be used in place of dill leaves or in combination with them for an attractive presentation.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
5 Sep. 2025
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One of the very attractive features of the amplituhedron, one that was noticed right away by Arkani-Hamed and Trnka, was that these two features, unitarity and locality, are necessary (but not fundamental) consequences that can be derived by using the amplituhedron framework.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
5 Sep. 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
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Charlie, a charming student, agrees to help if Avery pretends to be her girlfriend to make an ex jealous.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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This space has also been revamped over the summer with a dedicated bar, which adds to The Bar space in the palazzo’s charming Red Room, replete with silk coverings lining the walls and an original fresco by Cesare Rotta framing the ceiling.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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TikTok has turned makeup artist Erin Parsons into a beauty historian for the masses; her fascinating deep dives into the lore of products inspire a kind of nostalgic beauty renaissance.—
Mila Jaroniec,
Allure,
3 Sep. 2025
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Moreover, Jupiter’s major moons contain enormous quantities of water — with three of them having more water than even Earth does — and pose fascinating possibilities in the quest for life beyond our own planet.—
Ethan Siegel,
Big Think,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Another top luxury executive who has spent time with de Meo described him as a product-minded, hands-on developer with a seductive personality, good taste and a penchant for expensive watches.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
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But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous — a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal and power.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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