captivating
adjective
cap·ti·vat·ing
ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ 
: charmingly or irresistibly appealing
a captivating aroma
It's an utterly exotic combination of flavors, and a completely captivating one.—
Howard Seftel
Howard SeftelBooks with captivating stories and bright, uncomplicated artwork will enchant the very young without being too demanding.—Ed Zotti
Ed ZottiA captivating storyteller, he conveys the cozy domesticity of the small-time growers as well as the Technicolor style of life of the big deal-makers.—Alison Friesinger
Alison Friesinger
captivatingly
adverb
a captivatingly sweet voice
Each room is named for a month, and January through December are captivatingly filled with fanciful hearts, flowers, and vines that trail over the beds, chests, and wardrobes.
—Mimi Elder
Mimi Elder
Synonyms
Examples of captivating in a Sentence
a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
These tantalizing displays appealed to our senses, offering quick and captivating content that increasingly prioritized immediacy and entertainment over depth and contemplation.
—Gerui Wang, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
As Lois Tryon, an alcoholic detective who teams up with a true-crime loving nun (Micaela Diamond) to find a brutal serial killer, Nash-Betts kept viewers grounded amidst all the madness with her captivating and commanding intensity.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024
While his captivating performance is the driving force behind this transformation, the physical details—his mustache and American accent—add an extra layer of authenticity.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Over the course of the two-season show, Macondo and the Buendía household also continue to transform with time, in both captivating and devastating ways.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivating 
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.
Gerui Wang, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024
As Lois Tryon, an alcoholic detective who teams up with a true-crime loving nun (Micaela Diamond) to find a brutal serial killer, Nash-Betts kept viewers grounded amidst all the madness with her captivating and commanding intensity.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024
While his captivating performance is the driving force behind this transformation, the physical details—his mustache and American accent—add an extra layer of authenticity.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Over the course of the two-season show, Macondo and the Buendía household also continue to transform with time, in both captivating and devastating ways.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for captivating
Dictionary Entries Near captivating
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share