spellbinding 1 of 3

spellbinding

2 of 3

noun

spellbinding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of spellbind
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

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 spellbinding
Adjective
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 Though the future of Venice is uncertain, the Pearl of the Adriatic remains one of the most spellbinding and iconic destinations in Europe. Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2020 See all Example Sentences for spellbinding 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
  • No Other Land This riveting, award-winning documentary made by an Israeli-Palestinian collective, about the years-long dismantling of several West Bank villages by the occupying IDF, was the toast of the festival circuit for most of 2024.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Strauss extracted key situations and themes from the case and then fictionalized it into this riveting six-part Netflix series.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • So grab your favorite streaming device, line up some snacks, and let the enchantment unfold.
    Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
  • That’s the sizzling enchantment Craig, at his best, is capable of.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
  • By 1984, Chicago DJs Frankie Knuckles and Ron Hardy were repurposing disco tracks with drum machines like the Roland TR-808 and 909 to create hypnotic beats.
    Joycelyn Wilson, The Conversation, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Fassbender may be too obviously statuesque for real spycraft, but his performance of an agent cracking under the weight of existential turmoil is so hypnotic that one forgives the incongruous casting choice.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2025
  • By the end, the production seems to be working extra hard to keep the show’s seductiveness level from sinking, pumping in the odd flicker of magic whenever the score falls down on the job of bewitchment.
    Vulture, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2023
Adjective
  • While engrossing and skillfully executed, American Primeval as a whole winds up somewhat less than the sum of its excellent parts, and its conclusion leaves something to be desired.
    Michael M. Rosen, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Feb. 2025
  • Thoroughly engrossing and a must-read for history buffs.
    Lizz Schumer, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Their players look connected, know where each other are and play with fluidity and automatism.
    Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
  • French critic Laurent Jenny, in a piece translated by Thomas Trezise, contrasts Breton and Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, who, beginning in 1930, challenged some of the ideas of automatism.
    Allison C. Meier, JSTOR Daily, 19 Sep. 2024
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
  • With such fine margins at play, a thrilling title race is effectively guaranteed.
    Neel Shelat, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • An enchanting ballet performance A ballerina was filmed performing a dance on the edge of a cruise ship’s bilge, mere inches from Antarctica’s icy waters.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Bleak though his films may be, talking to Roemer is a consistently enchanting and enlightening experience.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near spellbinding

Cite this Entry

“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

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