as in charmed
being or appearing to be under a magic spell
spellbound audiences never tire of this annual Christmas favorite
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in fascinated
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 spellbound
Zeyi Yang, Wired News, 24 July 2025
Usher is still leaving the ladies spellbound on his Past Present Future Tour, with the latest steamy moment involving an older lady and some cherries.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Resist this madness before the unhinged, heartless bully and his spellbound thugs shred our Constitution and our future.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
The night ended with an electrifying rendition of Huan-zhi Li’s Spring Festival Overture, a thrilling and joyous finale that left the audience on their feet, spellbound, and ready to celebrate.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spellbound
Adjective
The plots are basic, the acting is exaggerated, and the performers are stereotypically good-looking, but the constant twists and turns keep him spellbound and wanting more.
—Zeyi Yang, Wired News, 24 July 2025
Usher is still leaving the ladies spellbound on his Past Present Future Tour, with the latest steamy moment involving an older lady and some cherries.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Resist this madness before the unhinged, heartless bully and his spellbound thugs shred our Constitution and our future.
—Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025
The night ended with an electrifying rendition of Huan-zhi Li’s Spring Festival Overture, a thrilling and joyous finale that left the audience on their feet, spellbound, and ready to celebrate.
—Noel Burgess, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spellbound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbound
Adjective
-
In Los Angeles in 1992, Ashley Bennett and her friends — at the end of senior year — are living the charmed life.—
Nora Dahlia,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
And if the team cannot reestablish its identity soon, Game 5 will be the home finale for a season that so recently seemed so charmed.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nat was fascinated by that refusal of categories.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Poukine is fascinated by survival as a slow act of self-rediscovery.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Kids can come in costume and enjoy trick or treating and interactive Halloween stations, from meeting the friendly witch in Candyland and uncovering wild experiments in the Mad Scientist’s Lab, to encountering a beloved princess and mischievous villain in their enchanted garden.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Now, she’s left to help Jasmine run an enchanted inn.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Be mesmerized by Lon Chaney’s iconic performance and makeup that introduced audiences to gothic spectacle on screen.—
Hema Sivanandam,
Mercury News,
27 Oct. 2025
-
But if you too have been mesmerized by the Belle Époque aesthetics of recent video games like Lies of P and Clair Obscur, Halloween is the perfect opportunity to put on a red beret and parry with the best of them.—
James Factora,
Them.,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Those four magic words mark the end of work stress and the start of a cozy, enjoyable retirement.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Nov. 2025
-
To me, that just feels like a magic trick.—
Lisa Lockwood,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Although Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy reprised their roles as the magical trio for the 2022 sequel, Birch, Katz and Shaw were not present for the onscreen reunion.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Enjoying a swimming hole in the summer is a prime Vermont pastime, but the state's waterways are just as magical in the colder months.—
Megan Margulies,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spellbound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbound. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share