as in riveting
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Dissimilar Words
as in enchantment
Related Words
as in fascinating
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
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Recent Examples of spellbinding
Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025
Come for the corrupt politicians boiling in pitch; stay for the poetry and the spellbinding stories.
—Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
After seeing other bakers promote their bakeries and cake decorating skills on social media through different creative video series, Alexis Oltmanns, the head cake decorator at Sugarjones in Loves Park, decided to do the same with her own spellbinding spin on the trend.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Ew Staff November 25, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025
With all of the wholesomeness of a Bronx drill Cocomelon, Ice delivers lines cleverly adapted to the cartoon series (with no curse words) in her signature, spellbinding cadence.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Adjective
Naturally, a unique coffee table begs for equally interesting coffee-table books, and these spellbinding tomes are readily available on the secondhand market.
—Amelia Mularz, Architectural Digest, 16 Dec. 2025
Come for the corrupt politicians boiling in pitch; stay for the poetry and the spellbinding stories.
—Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Noun
The outlines of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 are already seared into the American psyche, but this spellbinding book adds fascinating texture and provides a salutary warning for policymakers today.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
After seeing other bakers promote their bakeries and cake decorating skills on social media through different creative video series, Alexis Oltmanns, the head cake decorator at Sugarjones in Loves Park, decided to do the same with her own spellbinding spin on the trend.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
Let this spellbinding 78-card tarot deck featuring colorful illustrations of Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Nessarose, and more lead the way.
—Ew Staff November 25, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Nov. 2025
With all of the wholesomeness of a Bronx drill Cocomelon, Ice delivers lines cleverly adapted to the cartoon series (with no curse words) in her signature, spellbinding cadence.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
-
Rarely have decrescendos been so riveting, barely audible pianissimos so charged.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Episode 5 is particularly riveting, as Sherlock discovers something significant about his childhood.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Each card in this deck features legendary Ghibli scenes to bring the enchantment of Miyazaki’s fantastical worlds into your favorite fan’s hands.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Open the door to the theater, and discover a place of urban enchantment, where a red velvet door and crimson wallpaper beckon guests to come closer and sit inside.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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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Back and forth, neither of us missing, the ball blurring between us in that hypnotic rhythm that makes everything else disappear.—
Gali Kronenberg,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The hypnotic synths had the crowd gently head-bobbing in rhythm.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her work, then, is the work of resuscitation via bewitchment.—
Ocean Vuong,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
-
But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The face enchanting enough to gain entry into this party of the Four Hundred.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
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This enchanting 500-year-old Grade II cottage is set in 12 acres of mature gardens and land – including paddocks, a kitchen garden, and access with frontage on the River Arun (including fishing rights), ideal for kayaking and other water pursuits.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Jean is an enthralling account of an artist learning to be less precious about linear healing and emotions that don’t lend themselves to that process.—
Larisha Paul,
VIBE.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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Jean is an enthralling account of an artist learning to be less precious about linear healing and emotions that don’t lend themselves to that process.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There is a quality of trance, of autohypnosis, in her style.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
19 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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