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

• appealing
• charismatic
• attractive
• charming
• enchanting
• fascinating
• seductive

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation

Recent Examples on the Web

Stargazers should plan to wake early to view the captivating morning scene. —Gina Park, CNN Money, 9 July 2025

Every morning at dawn, on the shores of Pebbles Beach, Barbados, a captivating ritual takes place. —Ana Sotelo, The Dial, 8 July 2025

The jet fighter cluster climbed in a captivating, early digital way, while the V12 symphony bounced off surrounding hills; the E-Gear transmission producing a slight clunk with each cog swapped. 100 mph, 120, 140, 150, 175, 180. —Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025

This genre rooted in Mexican heritage, found passionate expression in the captivating sets of Peso Pluma, Jasiel Nuñez, and Cardenales de Nuevo León, each showcasing different facets of its tradition. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 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