FASCINATES Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

fascinates

verb

present tense third-person singular of fascinate

as in entices

to attract or delight as if by magic for years the zoo's family of giant pandas have fascinated visitors

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as in enchants

to hold the attention of as if by a spell I can gaze at the sea for hours, fascinated by the never-ending waves crashing upon the shore

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as in intrigues

to hold the attention of the subject of artificial intelligence fascinates me

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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 fascinates Yet, what fascinates is that Aristotle’s God isn’t a typical divine being who summons and shepherds. — Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, what fascinates aspiring neurologist Makenzie Stovall is the idea that AI is trying to emulate the brain — an organ whose inner workings continue to leave researchers dumbfounded. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026 But the skillful way in which they are woven together belies the efforts that went into telling this story, and Lovely Reader, this dedication to quality fascinates me. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 There is something magical about a firefly that fascinates young and old alike. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 6 June 2026 There is something about the play Harvey that fascinates me, especially for right now. — Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 What fascinates me about these campaigns is that most begin with a fundamentally understandable misunderstanding. — John Shallman, Oc Register, 3 June 2026 At the moment, Philadelphia fascinates me most, a Play-In team that has enough talent to make a run to the finals. — Chris Branch, New York Times, 4 May 2026 Precious artifacts have been recently unearthed from the site that fascinates scholars worldwide. — Sharon Chin, CBS News, 1 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fascinates

Verb

The high-concept thriller stars Valeria Bruni Tedeschi as a demonic character called The Stranger, who entices a young mother played by Jasmine Trinca into forging a Faustian pact.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
All of this casts doubt on whether the event will pull the kind of star power that entices TV networks to break their regular prime-time programming and compel viewers to skip an NFL game to tune in.

— Daniel Strauss, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of entices

Verb

Allegheny National Forest, just around 90 minutes from Erie, Pennsylvania, enchants with rolling peaks that reflect off calm, paddle-friendly waterways.

— Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 7 June 2026
Ella has shades of Holly Hunter's intense, workaholic producer Jane from Brooks' 1987 masterpiece Broadcast News, the smartest person in any room who both exhausts and enchants everyone around her.

— Esther Zuckerman, Time, 12 Dec. 2025

Definition of enchants

Verb

Carrero captivates in the dark comedy, as part of an ensemble cast that helped earn the series a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in its second season.

— Pete Hammond, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026
Celebrated for its genteel Scandinavian minimalism, the brand embraces a deliberate and elevated design philosophy that captivates with its uniqueness.

— Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of captivates

Verb

Railing against a new crop of progressive candidates has emerged as a more animating focus for a president who thrills to a fight.

— Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Her strict economy, honed by her early years of writing and endlessly revising (under the exacting eye of Allene Talmey) tight captions for Vogue, thrills the editor in me.

— Zinzi Clemmons, Los Angeles Times, 8 June 2026

Definition of thrills

Verb

This is a prospect that particularly delights Lady Eliza Spencer, Princess Diana’s niece and Prince Harry’s cousin.

— Mathilde Engelmann, Vanity Fair, 29 Aug. 2026
In addition to the scents currently available at Walmart, Dove will release additional Target-exclusive holiday delights later this fall.

— Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of delights

Verb

Everyone on stage mesmerizes, yet Christopher Nell as The Boy, a barrel of laughs and an acrobat, nonetheless steals the show.

— Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2026
During halftime, the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band mesmerizes the crowd with its military precision and complex formations.

— Kristen Tribe, Southern Living, 10 Oct. 2025

Definition of mesmerizes

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fascinated

fascinates

fascinating

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“Fascinates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fascinates. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of fascinates

verb

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