as in appealing
having an often mysterious or magical power to attract
a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fascinating
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivating
Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
There are people like that out there, and their stories that are very captivating, but this is actually a little bit creepier to me.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
Oscar-winning actors embody roles in an authentic way, captivating audiences and serving stories that transcend their selves.
—Harrison Monarth, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Adjective
Grand Tour is a little like these men and their machine: a deliberately ramshackle work made more captivating through its lack of conventional modes of propulsion and meaning.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2025
There are people like that out there, and their stories that are very captivating, but this is actually a little bit creepier to me.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
Few shows are as visually alluring and simultaneously captivating in their storytelling as The White Lotus.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
Oscar-winning actors embody roles in an authentic way, captivating audiences and serving stories that transcend their selves.
—Harrison Monarth, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivating
Adjective
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Vara is an appealing narrator—smart, funny, honest, and a little neurotic.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Preserve & Grow Wealth with Risk-Focused Quality Portfolios For investors who want to pair defensive strategy with appealing returns, AEP is a smart choice.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This cheap, farting, charismatic man was also a career pilot with the Royal Canadian Air Force.—
Nathan Heller,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
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Set in 1960s and 70s Hawaii, the story centers on a charismatic mob boss who builds a formidable criminal empire, fighting against mainland corporations and rival syndicates while striving to protect his ancestral land.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Nearly all bird species feed their young insects, so planting native greenery that attracts bugs can be enticing to hummingbirds.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2025
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Experts say the falling rate could thaw the largely frozen housing market by enticing buyers off the sidelines.—
Kevin Williams,
Quartz,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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There is this idea that top managers would like the job because there is so much talent, plus the style and brand of football are very attractive.—
The Totally Football Show,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Meanwhile, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, while sizable, have never had an NBA team and are likely less attractive options compared to San Diego.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Offstage, Summer lives in the Dallas Fort Worth area, sharing her home with her supportive husband, their charming daughter, her quirky brother, and her canine companions, Cricket, Loki, Adie and chinchilla, Princess Fluffy Pants.—
Hilary Tetenbaum,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
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But behind the chocolate chips and charming branding was a visionary who defied the traditional mold of Black masculinity, one homemade batch at a time.—
Jasmine Browley,
Essence,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Long live the Eras Tour with our enchanting book Saunders' widest reach may have come through Eras Tour, but his entertainment resume extends beyond the record-breaking show.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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Oliveira remembers the family’s chauffeur: recalling an enchanting ride home late at night, the filmmaker gets the twenty-first-century Porto to stand in, through the windows of an antique car, for the city of his youth.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
26 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This rule set up a fascinating opportunity to directly compare the health outcomes of two groups of individuals over time.—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2025
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Yet, as captured in this fascinating documentary, his life and on-set persona were messy, complicated, and unforgettable.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Then on April 6, Venus will meet with Mars in a seductive trine, heightening your sensuality and receptivity with those around you.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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The book revealed the emotional wreckage that lay just beneath the seductive, glittering surface of a certain sector of France’s progressive cultural élite.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivating. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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