as in to fascinate
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in appeal
the power of irresistible attraction
by some mysterious method of captivation, the therapist is able to evoke a response from even the shiest of children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivate
Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 25 Feb. 2025
The walls of the cars were covered with ads aimed at captivating a particular kind of person, and everyone on the train had the seed of that particular person somewhere inside themselves.
—Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
For more than 70 years, the SS United States captivated the hearts and minds of Americans for her distinguished beauty.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
The film’s captivating narrative, visuals and thematic exploration will surely appeal to audiences worldwide.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Verb
Abboud draws from global influences in her work and elevates timeless style with exquisite materials, vintage lighting, and captivating architectural elements.
—Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 25 Feb. 2025
The walls of the cars were covered with ads aimed at captivating a particular kind of person, and everyone on the train had the seed of that particular person somewhere inside themselves.
—Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025
For more than 70 years, the SS United States captivated the hearts and minds of Americans for her distinguished beauty.
—Forrest Brown, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025
The film’s captivating narrative, visuals and thematic exploration will surely appeal to audiences worldwide.
—Jamie Lang, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
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In 1956, an aspiring young actor named Gene Hackman joined the Pasadena Playhouse in California, struggling to find a way into a field he’d been fascinated with since childhood.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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But Dan Hurley has a profound personal story & I was fascinated by how his holistic behind-the-scenes approach & volatile coaching style made Gen Z kids champions.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Copies sold for hundreds of dollars, its scarcity only adding to its mythic appeal.—
Rachel Hills,
Vogue,
4 Mar. 2025
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The rug’s slightly distressed look gives it a bit of vintage appeal, and its stain-resistant finish will protect against everyday spills and debris.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
4 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Instead, General Catalyst is in rapid expansion mode — trying to build the sort of diversified, fee-generating asset base that would entice Wall Street analysts to use firms like Blackstone as comps.—
Dan Primack,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
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But the black-and-white film about two Black couples, played by the same actors, living in Chicago during two different time periods, didn’t entice distributors.—
Chris O'Falt,
IndieWire,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Read: Behind the American right’s fascination with Viktor Orbán Putin and Russia always held a special place in Trump world, however.—
Garry Kasparov,
The Atlantic,
28 Feb. 2025
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Their rites could not be revealed to those outside the cult and were therefore a source of great fascination to the wider populace.—
Barbie Latza Nadeau,
CNN,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Visit during sunrise or sunset for enchanting views of Christoffelberg.—
Curaçao Tourist Board,
AFAR Media,
26 Feb. 2025
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The competition’s ultimate underdog story belongs to Calais and the team of talented and spirited fourth-tier part-timers who enchanted the whole of France by battling their way to the final in 2000.—
Tom Williams,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Finally, bloodsuckers from The Sims 4 Vampires can simply charm the burglar into leaving — after taking a quick sip from her, of course.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
Newsweek,
26 Feb. 2025
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Set on a slope above the village where Roger Moore lived, skied, charmed, and died, it is set on 45,000 acres overlooking a large swimming pool and a small, frozen lake.—
Rachel Johnson,
airmail.news,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Sharing a bed, for example, is quite the talking point and speaking bluntly about your attraction to someone is downright gasp-worthy.—
Lily Ford,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
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The city has an opportunity to build an international attraction that would resonate for generations to come, Warren told a crowd of supporters at the Bears current home, 100-year-old Soldier Field.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Since 1986, Dolores and Lupe Mendez have been delighting South Siders with soul-satisfying breakfast tacos and other early-morning staples like huevos rancheros.—
Edmund Tijerina,
Bon Appétit,
27 Feb. 2025
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The players’ receptiveness to the nickname delights Liam.—
Edward Lee,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
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