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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
But the icon, who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, had her own captivating story offscreen, which has long been immortalized in movies, television shows and books.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Employing a fictional slasher movie of yesteryear as the portal into a conversation about self and desire, this is heady, strange stuff, frustrating at times but captivating in both its confusion and its honesty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Adjective
The neighborhood Bairro Alto Hotel sits on the boundary of two of Lisbon’s most captivating districts, Chiado and Bairro Alto, with their steeply, sloping cobblestone streets and intriguing nooks and crannies, so you’ll never be stuck for something to see, a place to eat, or a boutique to browse.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
But the icon, who was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, had her own captivating story offscreen, which has long been immortalized in movies, television shows and books.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 2 June 2026
Verb
Located along the Caribbean coastline, this region boasts cultural attractions, high-end resorts with plenty of space to sprawl out, and lots of nature for captivating kids.
—Kaitlyn McInnis, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026
Employing a fictional slasher movie of yesteryear as the portal into a conversation about self and desire, this is heady, strange stuff, frustrating at times but captivating in both its confusion and its honesty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
Adjective
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The squared toe, decorative leather flower and dusty color blocking all carried the offbeat femininity that has made archival Prada footwear particularly appealing to vintage shoppers.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
14 June 2026
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Use scare tactics like predator decoys, reflective objects, or windsocks to make your patio less appealing for birds to perch.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 June 2026
Verb
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Dakota Green of Horseshoe Bend was arrested Saturday on suspicion of felony enticing children through the internet, video image or other communication device, according to the Boise County Sheriff’s Office.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
14 June 2026
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But this disjointed medley, performed by Christiani Pitts and Sam Tutty, offered little context for what is meant to be exciting or enticing about the show.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
8 June 2026
Adjective
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The quality that hosts need in order to court and maintain audiences online is a dose of charismatic feeling, preferably caught in thirty seconds or less.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
10 Dec. 2025
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After arriving, Cena and Styles began a feud that would be one of the defining parts of both their careers, as the charismatic WWE star and ring purist outsider elevated their games to new heights.—
Tyler Erzberger,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
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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Another project will target the City Center Innovation District to accomplish similar goals, making the city more attractive to businesses.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
21 Aug. 2025
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The South, particularly Sunbelt states like North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, are becoming attractive options for soon-to-be homeowners looking to escape rising living costs.—
Taeya Boi-Doku,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This is especially true with seductive Venus sashaying into Gemini as of July 4, charming your flirtatious fifth house of love, passion and self-expression.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
10 July 2025
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On July 4, your celestial ruler, Venus, entered the sparkly and witty sign of Gemini, charming your ninth house of experience and self-discovery.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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What is happening currently in biology and medicine—with biomedical research accelerating the understanding of disease and developing new drugs—is fascinating and will revolutionize the approach to human health.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
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This is such an incredible intersection between this world of male models and cult, the idea that Hoyt was living this double life between these two worlds seemed really fascinating to me.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
Adjective
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The copy was just as seductive.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
15 June 2026
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Luna will also conjunct Mars, bringing momentum to something fun, creative or heartfelt — this could be a date, passion project or seductive flirtation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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