FASCINATE Synonyms: 68 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'fascinate' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of fascinate are allure , attract , captivate , charm , and enchant . While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist. // a story that continues to fascinate children

Q: When could 'allure' be used to replace 'fascinate'?

The words allure and fascinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive. // an alluring smile

Q: When is 'attract' a more appropriate choice than 'fascinate'?

The meanings of attract and fascinate largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another. // students attracted by the school's locale

Q: How are the words 'charm' and 'captivate' related as synonyms of 'fascinate'?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate , suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration. // charmed by their hospitality // her performances captivated audiences

Q: When would 'enchant' be a good substitute for 'fascinate'?

While the synonyms enchant and fascinate are close in meaning, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject. // hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

fascinate

verb

ˈfa-sə-ˌnāt

Definition of fascinate next

as in to entice

to attract or delight as if by magic for years the zoo's family of giant pandas have fascinated visitors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to enchant

to hold the attention of as if by a spell I can gaze at the sea for hours, fascinated by the never-ending waves crashing upon the shore

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to interest

to hold the attention of the subject of artificial intelligence fascinates me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word fascinate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of fascinate are allure, attract, captivate, charm, and enchant. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

When could allure be used to replace fascinate?

The words allure and fascinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When is attract a more appropriate choice than fascinate?

The meanings of attract and fascinate largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

How are the words charm and captivate related as synonyms of fascinate?

Charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality

her performances captivated audiences

When would enchant be a good substitute for fascinate?

While the synonyms enchant and fascinate are close in meaning, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of fascinate The complexities of such an arrangement fascinated me: What happens to your relationship with your parent or your sibling when that person is also your business partner? —

Deborah Treisman, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2025 The Frenchman was fascinated by the subject and even allowed Jordet and his team of researchers to install cameras at the club’s Emirates Stadium during the 2017-18 season to study his players. —

Stuart James, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025 Their interior design approach was always very eclectic, sometimes even a bit crazy, but that fascinated me. —

Valerie Präkelt, Architectural Digest, 29 Dec. 2024 Fishing for Microbes For years, Irene Salinas has been fascinated by a simple physiological fact: The distance between the nose and the brain is quite small. —

Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fascinate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fascinate

Verb

Trump’s firing of pro-labor Abruzzo and Wilcox is rumored to entice Amazon and SpaceX to challenge the constitutionality of the NLRB at the Supreme Court.

— Elaine Mallon, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 28 Jan. 2025
As with many scams, the message contains a kernel of truth—enough to entice taxpayers to click.

— Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 28 Jan. 2025