as in charmed
being or appearing to be under a magic spell
spellbound audiences never tire of this annual Christmas favorite
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of spellbound
Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
People who use generative AI are often spellbound that the AI seems to be correct and seemingly always on target.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Yet even casual, low-adrenaline Arches visits can leave you spellbound.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for spellbound
Adjective
When the supermodel was introduced to French cosmetic doctor Jean-Louis Sebagh in Paris, France, she was spellbound by his revolutionary approach to age maintenance, which utilizes the extract of the rare Charentais cantaloupe.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
People who use generative AI are often spellbound that the AI seems to be correct and seemingly always on target.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Yet even casual, low-adrenaline Arches visits can leave you spellbound.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 17 Aug. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for spellbound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbound
Adjective
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In the process, what long seemed like an angel on their shoulder — the charmed Chiefs — morphed into their nemesis.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
1 Jan. 2026
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Many of the jewels come with hefty names attached, including Cartier, Verdura, Andrew Grima and David Webb, but even the ones that aren’t branded tell equally rich stories about the 93-year-old Lady Glenconner, whose charmed life has been spiked with tragedy.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
24 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Bass, who as a young man played a year as a tailback for the Utah State Aggies, was fascinated by the program, and its coach, Anthony Barnes.—
Michael Schaub,
Oc Register,
29 Dec. 2025
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Shakespeare has always fascinated me as a challenge, and Romeo & Juliet is one of the most famous stories in the world.—
Nick Remsen,
Vogue,
27 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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From enchanted kingdoms to the streets of today, members of the Art Directors Guild craft the environments that bring film, television, and theater to life.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
7 Jan. 2026
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Walls pale pink like the inside of a shell, a glass roof far above, and at the courtyard’s center an enchanted garden with a mosaic floor and a fountain, delicate flowering vines.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Being mesmerized and swept off my feet by a woman who doesn’t even know me.—
Denise Warner,
Billboard,
23 Dec. 2025
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As we’re mesmerized by artificial intelligence today, going back to Lem’s stories, which anticipated every kind of intelligent machine, is a must.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
6 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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And then this magic area of just knowing how to communicate it and connect with players.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
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This was the year Kansas City lost its magic pixie dust … while ultimately scuffling to a 6-11 finish.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Set on Christmas Eve, this adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg's beloved 1985 children's book follows a young boy whose waning belief in Santa Claus is reinvigorated after hopping on a magical train to the North Pole.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
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Now, even some areas of the magical Okavango Delta have become busy.—
Elizabeth Gordon,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spellbound.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbound. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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