captivating

adjective

cap·​ti·​vat·​ing ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
: 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

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
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 

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivating was in 1675

Dictionary Entries Near captivating

Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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