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

Books with captivating stories and bright, uncomplicated artwork will enchant the very young without being too demanding.

—Ed Zotti

A 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

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

Synonyms

• alluring
• appealing
• attractive
• bewitching
• charismatic
• charming
• elfin
• enchanting
• engaging
• entrancing
• fascinating
• fetching
• glamorous
• glamourous
• luring
• magnetic
• seductive

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation

Recent Examples on the Web

Black Mirror has finally set a return date and along with the release date announcement, Netflix has dropped a captivating trailer and slew of photos teasing the forthcoming episodes. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Mar. 2025

By all accounts, Bowden was — and remains — a captivating performer on the live stage. —Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025

Enjoy a captivating bio-boho aesthetic that pays homage to the thriving marine life and verdant flora integrated with modern sophistication. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

Fahy gives a captivating performance as an anxious woman struggling to keep it together on her first date in years. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for captivating

• abdicating
• abrogating
• activating
• actuating
• advocating
• aggravating
• aggregating
• agitating
• allocating
• alternating
• animating
• annotating