as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in riveting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in enchantment
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spellbinding
Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2022
Check out its first direct image of a gas giant exoplanet as well as a spellbinding view of the Phantom Galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022
This easy pullout on the Kancamagus Highway brings motorists face-to-face with a spellbinding view of the White Mountains that stretches on for miles.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2022
The most spellbinding moment of the night came afterward, as the crew switched out James Krivchenia’s kick drum.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Verb
To keep your eyes fixed on him throughout a match is both spellbinding and deadly dull.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2022
Check out its first direct image of a gas giant exoplanet as well as a spellbinding view of the Phantom Galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022
This easy pullout on the Kancamagus Highway brings motorists face-to-face with a spellbinding view of the White Mountains that stretches on for miles.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2022
The most spellbinding moment of the night came afterward, as the crew switched out James Krivchenia’s kick drum.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
-
There was a lot of back slapping over Test cricket after the riveting contest played between countries armed with billion-dollar broadcast deals plus a lion’s share of the International Cricket Council’s funding.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
-
The record’s riveting narrative and political conscience stood out in an age of generic radio fare and overcautious stars.—
Holden Seidlitz,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
With Trump, there’s no enchantment outside of the GOP base, so there can’t be so much disenchantment.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Here are some of the itineraries that capture the enchantment of these fascinating countries in Northern Europe, each with its distinct personality and culture.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
29 July 2025
Adjective
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Their hypnotic live sessions and cultural performances have even earned them their own residency at the popular nightclub venue Hï Ibiza in the Balearic Islands.—
Tere Aguilera,
Billboard,
27 Aug. 2025
-
At Puri Saren Palace, dancers in gilded headdresses flick delicate wrists to the hypnotic clang of gamelan—a traditional Indonesian orchestra of gongs, metallophones, and bamboo flutes.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Her work, then, is the work of resuscitation via bewitchment.—
Ocean Vuong,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
-
But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Elsewhere in the interview, the Australian actress revealed that the movie — in which Kidman plays a woman having an affair with a younger man — was thrilling for her.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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With such fine margins at play, a thrilling title race is effectively guaranteed.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes,
1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
She’s squatted on her heels within a tight copse of five or six stones leaning like dolmens, chin on chest as if an engrossing thing lies between her feet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
-
After nabbing a backstage invite to Oliver’s show later that night, the film sets an engrossing trap: Is Matthew an overeager fan or something more sinister?—
Eric Torres,
Pitchfork,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
At the club, time allows automatisms and structure to become habit.—
Philipp Lahm,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
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Their players look connected, know where each other are and play with fluidity and automatism.—
Charlotte Harpur,
The Athletic,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Depending on the season, there are dozens of opportunities to harvest nature's bounty in Pungo, an enchanting and unexpected 8,000 acres of farmland just past Sandbridge Beach.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
28 Aug. 2025
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The result was completely was enchanting, including the brusque Communist-era service.—
Sarah Turner,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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