spellbinding 1 of 3

spellbinding

2 of 3

noun

spellbinding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of spellbind
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

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 spellbinding
Adjective
Riders must collect the musical spirits and return them to the organ using their spellbinding flashlights. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 22 Oct. 2025 Hannibal had to be both awake and remote in order to create a spellbinding charisma. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
The result was nothing short of spellbinding. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025 Hearing these spellbinding performances in our state-of-the-art studios has been nothing short of extraordinary. Todd Spangler, Variety, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
Series brings spellbinding colors and AI-powered smarts to your movie nights. PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025 Both were spellbinding experiences that exuded joy and adventure in equal measure, prompting me and other attendees to repeatedly grin and shake our heads in wonder and awe. George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
  • Rauschenberg, who died in 2008, was born a century ago this year, and two major New York institutions are exhibiting works from his vast and riveting œuvre.
    Hilton Als, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • In the riveting conclusion, Bond is still reeling after being tortured by Colonel Mora, the head of the brutal military company Rattenfänger.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • There’s no enchantment in that.
    Abby McCloskey, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Step outside, and the enchantment continues.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Balle’s prose—repetitive, hypnotic, and as balanced as a small plane—sustains an atmosphere of illuminated ordinariness.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • While romance is built into the Gothic nature of the tale, the erotic appeal of Frankenstein is not as obvious as that of Dracula, with his hypnotic stare and eternal devotion.
    Katie Rife, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
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
  • If that wasn't enchanting enough, they were then joined by their original Broadway counterparts, Kristin Chenoweth (Glinda) and Idina Menzel (Elphaba).
    Jillian Sederholm, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Even the most incredulous of us listened to him describe the visions of fleeting stars that were enchanting enough to swoon the most beautiful people on this poor Earth.
    Big Think, Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Without spoiling the climax, A Tale of Two Sisters uses the haunted house motif almost as a window dressing to obscure the psychological aspects at play in this immensely enthralling, supernatural flick.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Samantha Eggar, the vivacious British actress whose five-year run starting in 1965 included enthralling performances in The Collector, Return From the Ashes, Doctor Dolittle and The Molly Maguires, has died.
    Chris Koseluk, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There is a quality of trance, of autohypnosis, in her style.
    New York Times, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2021
Verb
  • This suave, mesmerizing short will inspire you to finally pick up that film camera and appreciate the art of analog.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2025
  • The stories, featuring interwoven poetry, are mesmerizing.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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