captivating

[kap-tuh-vey-ting]

adjective

1. 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of captivating¹

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

Example Sentences

But we just wanted something that was just super captivating and just lures you in.

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“I’ve seen Taylor do the exact same thing of setting goals for herself and exceeding the expectations and really captivating the world in that regard,” he said.

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You certainly don’t have to be a deeply invested cinephile to fall hard for this yarn, because the performances and visuals are captivating in themselves.

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So what Wyle does on “The Pitt” is almost revolutionary, fashioning a captivating character who makes you want to do better.

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The captivating exhibition “The Kingdom of Pylos: Warrior-Princes of Ancient Greece” at the Getty Villa is the first since January’s devastating Palisades fire shuttered the place for more than five months.

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Related Words

• absorbing 
• affecting 
• charming 
• compelling 
• delightful 
• diverting 
• engaging 
• engrossing 
• enjoyable 
• enticing 
• exciting 
• fascinating 
• fun 
• funny 
• humorous 
• impressive 
• inspiring www.thesaurus.com
• interesting 
• lively 
• moving