as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of engrossing
Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Russo-Young revisits her family’s unique—and headline-making—history in this engrossing docuseries about her biological father, a gay sperm donor, suing for paternity rights, and the lawsuit that threatened her already vulnerable family.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2025
Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
While completely different in subject and tone—one is about a missing baby, the other about an ambitious heist—the Swedish TV series Snow Angels and the South African geopolitical police procedural Leo are engrossing enough to distract from whatever’s troubling you now.
—Lisa Henricksson, airmail.news, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for engrossing
Adjective
The latter is best understood through passages told through the perspective of her father, which provides an engrossing, critical view of Chen as a daughter.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Russo-Young revisits her family’s unique—and headline-making—history in this engrossing docuseries about her biological father, a gay sperm donor, suing for paternity rights, and the lawsuit that threatened her already vulnerable family.
—Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 28 Nov. 2025
Verb
The rest of the album is engrossing film-score flotsam.
—Jon Dolan, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2025
While completely different in subject and tone—one is about a missing baby, the other about an ambitious heist—the Swedish TV series Snow Angels and the South African geopolitical police procedural Leo are engrossing enough to distract from whatever’s troubling you now.
—Lisa Henricksson, airmail.news, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for engrossing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engrossing
Adjective
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The Cowboys have mastered the art of entertaining and interesting better than any sports franchise in the world, but there is a redundancy that to the person who spends a lot of their money on it is justifiably checked out.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
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Seeing these guys unapologetically portrayed by an actor whose superpower is the audience is always with him was interesting.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Our guide to the best upcoming sci-fi movies in 2026 features a blockbuster mix of popular franchises, intriguing one-offs, and one of the greatest directors of all time heading back to alien visitation territory.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Dec. 2025
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New York has intriguing young outfielders in Jasson Domínguez and Spencer jones, but Bellinger was the team's second best player in the lineup this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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For the uninitiated, analog bags are essentially bags that are filled with tactile, low-stimulatory activities that are screenless yet totally engaging, like books, crafts, and journals.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Jan. 2026
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The flow is natural and creates an engaging experience for guests in this warm and welcoming environment.—
Wendy Altschuler,
Forbes.com,
22 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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Movable acoustic drapes and sound-absorbing panels will let the theater be calibrated to the best sound for various styles of performances.—
Heather McRea,
Oc Register,
26 Jan. 2026
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Armed with their music knowledge, Kristjanson and Devoe equipped the listening room and wine bar with a JJ322 tube amp, Klipsch AK6 speakers and sound-absorbing panels along the walls and ceilings that look ornamental and decorative at first glance.—
Nneka M. Okona,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While immersing themselves in vintage dance, Cathleen and James had their day jobs.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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The system includes several easy-to-use tools for enhancing dialogue or immersing yourself in surround sound, all without waking any light sleepers or disturbing the neighbors.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Engrossing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engrossing. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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