as in to fascinate
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in appeal
the power of irresistible attraction
by some mysterious method of captivation, the therapist is able to evoke a response from even the shiest of children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivate
Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Perched along the shores of glacial Mohonk Lake in New York's Hudson Valley, Mohonk Mountain House has captivated visitors with its extraordinary natural surroundings.
—Angela Lian, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Jared Weiss, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Verb
Brought to life by captivating narrators, these stories can accompany you on daily commutes, long walks and cozy evenings at home, transforming everyday moments into immersive adventures.
—Ashlee Conour, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2026
Perched along the shores of glacial Mohonk Lake in New York's Hudson Valley, Mohonk Mountain House has captivated visitors with its extraordinary natural surroundings.
—Angela Lian, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
Wembanyama’s captivation with the intricacies of space travel was apparent.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
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Systematic excavations at Pompeii began in the mid-1700s, and the site has fascinated historians and visitors ever since.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
19 Feb. 2026
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Then, there are the pesky vampirologists Theobastus Bombastus (André Jung) and Nepomuk Afterbite (Marco Lorenzini), who’ve arrived at this hotel for a vampire conference and are fascinated by Erzsébet’s legend, and my god, her gowns, too.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The neighborhood/area Nagatacho won't land on many sightseeing itineraries—this is Tokyo's political district—but that's part of the appeal here.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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Last September, Del Mar council members voted unanimously against considering an appeal of the Seaside Ridge application.—
Luke Harold,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bond Ng, 47, was arrested on Sunday and charged with enticing a person to travel in interstate commerce to engage in prostitution, federal officials said.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
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Social media have unique features, especially for users to generate and share content, but apps generally try to entice users to regularly visit and stick around.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The commercial attractiveness of the World Cup, which is currently soliciting bids from potential host cites in North America and Europe, should be significantly higher.—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
22 Feb. 2026
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However, worries around a decline in attractiveness and fertility weren’t strongly linked with epigenetic aging.—
Korin Miller,
SELF,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Meet Luca, the adorable champion who charmed his way to becoming the 2025 Baby of the Year!—
Sydney Cisco,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
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Carolyn charms everyone with her effortless teasing and joking around.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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With that kind of sudden visibility, every detail of Liu’s appearance became a topic of online fascination.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
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Ever since Katy Perry and former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were first seen together, there has been a fascination with their relationship.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Performances at the Spellbound by Magic Castle experience are guaranteed not only to delight longtime magic fans but also to impress and convert the skeptical.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Situated near the banks of the Tennessee River, guests have easy access to attractions in Knoxville, including a variety of historic landmarks, outdoor recreational activities, and a vibrant arts, theatre and culinary scene.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
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The film examines the push-pull of attraction and rejection on a scope both intimate and global, finding the uneasy space where the two meet.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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