captivating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
Definition of captivatingnext
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

captivating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of captivate
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of captivating
Adjective
Oakley and Reid lean so heavily into Elinor and Marianne’s crushing disappointments and the forces holding them back in a period of vast gender inequity, that their sorrows shove the characters’ more captivating qualities to the side. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026 The film’s cast is mostly made up of tribal non-actors, but Anghlong Konyak is its captivating center, as a man whose stubbornness against change sits alongside a lingering grief over his fading way of life. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
This time the central crime revolves around a severed finger that is sent to the high school, and a mysterious — potentially nefarious — new teacher captivating their children. — Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026 Get the latest news, exclusive reveals, announcements, and behind-the-scenes insight into the stories and characters captivating readers across the Absolute line. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
  1. appealing
  2. fascinating
  3. charismatic
  4. enticing
  5. attractive
  6. enchanting
  7. charming
  8. seductive
Adjective
  • The therapist suggested that losing curiosity about a partner can sometimes make attention from someone outside the relationship particularly appealing.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Houmt Souk, Tunisia Djerba — the largest island in North Africa — offers an appealing alternative to the archaeological sites and desert landscapes elsewhere in Tunisia.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of appealing
Verb
  • The trailer promises fascinating new characters, like one man who lives on a sailboat for most of the year.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of fascinating
Adjective
  • Its inclusion in the corridors of power is characteristic of the 52-year-old executive, whom colleagues describe as committed, charismatic and down-to-earth.
    — Jenny B. Fine, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The biopic centers on charismatic auto industry executive Sergio Marchionne, played by Pierfrancesco Favino, who saved Fiat from the brink of bankruptcy.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of charismatic
Verb
  • Caruso has been charged with kidnapping, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious exhibition, luring or enticing a child, and child abuse inflicting mental injury.
    — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • In essence, disruptor brands give athletes only-child treatment, which is enticing in a crowded market.
    — Joe Bobowicz, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of enticing
Adjective
  • The Bridgewater Associates founder told CNBC equities have so far weathered the global bond sell-off because earnings growth has kept expected stock returns attractive, relative to bonds.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This is why smaller logistics companies are becoming an attractive alternative to legacy providers.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of attractive
Verb
  • Even the Owens family’s enchanting New England home, which the internet has spent nearly three decades foaming at the mouth over, is barely seen, as much of the film takes place overseas.
    — Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026
  • Practical Magic 2 has Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman enchanting a new generation of fans, but not everyone from the original cast returned for the sequel.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of enchanting
Adjective
  • The neighborhood/area The fishing village of Conca dei Marini remains a lovely reminder of what this whole coast was once like—sleepy, charming, lost in time.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • This season’s star was the Asa Tote, a large flat architectural shape with asymmetric shoulder straps that shined in its simplicity thanks to the contrasting textures, like in the charming canvas and leather version.
    — Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of charming
Adjective
  • In our conspiratorial age, the idea that there are fine, obscure relationships between seemingly disparate things is a thought seductive on the surface but oftentimes shallow underneath.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
  • In a world where an internet search or an AI summary promises an instant answer, there is something seductive about an investigation that requires touching the evidence.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of seductive

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captivating
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Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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