as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
a riveting explanation of light waves that fascinated the class
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in focusing
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riveting
Mac Engel
april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Although McKellen’s Julian is colorful and riveting, Solomon saw Coel’s Lori as the protagonist from whose perspective the movie would largely be told.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone wondering how to make each hour in their workday riveting for television viewers.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riveting
Adjective
Watching a prodigy embarrass the world over 72 holes was riveting; equally captivating is following the same person be exposed by life, hubris and ego.
—Mac Engel
april 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
Although McKellen’s Julian is colorful and riveting, Solomon saw Coel’s Lori as the protagonist from whose perspective the movie would largely be told.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Pomona native and Cal Poly grad who flew Navy F-18s successfully launches as pilot of NASA’s riveting Artemis II mission around the moon, the first such voyage since the Apollo program in 1972.
—Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026
Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone wondering how to make each hour in their workday riveting for television viewers.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for riveting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveting
Adjective
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From there, both fighters were trading blows, but the fifth round was when Strickland had an interesting moment with Chimaev.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
10 May 2026
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Welcome to Taste Test, where every week our critic Jonah Flicker explores the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Researchers are focusing on the volcanoes of the Eastern Caribbean, which erupt relatively frequently and can quickly transition from effusive-style, lava-heavy eruptions to sudden, catastrophic, explosive ones.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 May 2026
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And the various industries are taking notice, focusing on reformulating and repackaging their products to keep up with what one industry observer calls a seismic shift.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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Businessman and real estate agent Dan Thornberg has an intriguing sales pitch for a house he’s just listed.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
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Wagler is particularly intriguing as a big guard who could potentially fit next to Garland in the short term as a backup and in the long term as a shooting guard.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Rather than concentrating only on the finished garment, Bluesign evaluates the factories behind it, including their chemical management, environmental practices and worker safety systems.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
6 May 2026
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But overall, Measure G risks adding cost and concentrating power instead of fixing performance.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Carl Anka Trent Alexander-Arnold’s England career is a fascinating case study in why team sports can prefer the orthodox to the mavericks.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Bradley is a symbol of how Black dance artists were robbed of credit, and also a fascinating exception.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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In his free time, Sebastian also enjoys playing video games, which gives him a chance to relax and connect with others in a fun and engaging way.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 May 2026
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Friday’s episode felt more engaging because Bayless set the tone.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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As the lens follows Dua, often up close and from behind, this mode of expression proves alternately absorbing and alienating.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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Operator errors, including violations of safety protocols and the removal of most absorbing rods, also played a role.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riveting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveting. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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