Synonyms

captivating

American

[kap-tuh-vey-ting] / ˈkæp təˌveɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

attracting and holding the attention or interest, as by beauty or excellence; enchanting

The newly fallen snow turns our real-life world of brown grass and gray skies into a captivating fairyland.

Other Word Forms

captivatingly adverb
uncaptivating adjective

Etymology

Origin of captivating

First recorded in 1670–80; captivat(e) ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And in her captivating interpretation, Fennell makes her viewers feel everything.

From Salon

"The leads are captivating and their chemistry sizzles," he said.

From BBC

Fresh from another Brit Awards nomination for best international artist, she was an "extraordinary songwriter and a captivating live performer", said Eden Sessions director Simon Townsend.

From BBC

“We’re so good at captivating the audience in the sense that we bring our own style throughout our routines,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s equally proficient on clarinet, providing intermittent solos of captivating beauty.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023