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
Check out its first direct image of a gas giant exoplanet as well as a spellbinding view of the Phantom Galaxy. Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 This easy pullout on the Kancamagus Highway brings motorists face-to-face with a spellbinding view of the White Mountains that stretches on for miles. Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2022 The most spellbinding moment of the night came afterward, as the crew switched out James Krivchenia’s kick drum. Justin Curto, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021 Though the future of Venice is uncertain, the Pearl of the Adriatic remains one of the most spellbinding and iconic destinations in Europe. Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2020 See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
  • In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process.
    Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • The crack of Shohei Ohtani’s bat — punctuating a riveting contest in early May with another indelible moment of on-demand magic.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • Alyssa Wentzel, an undergraduate at the University of Delaware who joined Dr. Wozniak aboard Alvin, described the enchantment of sinking into the darkness of the ocean depths on the 70-minute journey to the seafloor.
    Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • But any semblance of real whimsy and enchantment (let alone profits) went down the rabbit hole with Tim Burton, who stepped down from director to producer for this diminished sequel.
    Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • In the room with us in Valencia, the dolls eyes’ are hypnotic, carrying a trace of malevolence.
    Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2025
  • Shot in the Colombian desert, this new film is nothing short of hypnotic.
    Marta Balaga, Variety, 14 May 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
Adjective
  • Minahan’s engrossing, beautiful to behold drama has been somewhat dismissed for its old-school storytelling style.
    Randy Myers, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The film gets a little loud for its own tone towards the end, but Kumar and Madhavan manage to maintain the engrossing grip on the audience with their brilliant performances.
    Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • At the club, time allows automatisms and structure to become habit.
    Philipp Lahm, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Their players look connected, know where each other are and play with fluidity and automatism.
    Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Elsewhere in the interview, the Australian actress revealed that the movie — in which Kidman plays a woman having an affair with a younger man — was thrilling for her.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
  • With such fine margins at play, a thrilling title race is effectively guaranteed.
    Neel Shelat, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The Scottish Highlands are an enchanting tapestry of landscapes rich in history and culture.
    Jen Murphy, Outside Online, 13 May 2025
  • Stargazing under West Virginia’s dark skies Courtesy of West Virginia Tourism West Virginia becomes even more enchanting when the sun dips below the ridges.
    West Virginia Tourism, AFAR Media, 9 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!