fascinated

[fas-uh-ney-tid]

adjective

1. having the attention attracted and held by a person or thing having unique power or charm, unusual character, etc.; enthralled or captivated.

   The nature trail guide opened one of the boxes to let the fascinated onlookers view two baby bluebirds inside.

2. strongly interested or intrigued by something.

   I'm speaking now not as a lawyer, just as a fascinated observer of mankind.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of fascinate.

Other Word Forms

• fascinatedly adverb
• half-fascinated adjective
• quasi-fascinated adjective
• unfascinated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinated¹

fascinate ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. )

Example Sentences

She’s morbidly fascinated by racial and class segregation among cemeteries.

From Los Angeles Times

“He fascinated me somehow and I began speaking with him,” says Herzog.

From Los Angeles Times

Born to an Armenian family in Utah, Laboe was always fascinated with radios and broadcasting.

From Los Angeles Times

He was also attracted to political extremism and fascinated by violence.

From Salon

When you see the counterfeiting in “To Live and Die L.A.,” people were fascinated by that.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absorbed 
• aroused 
• delighted 
• enamored 
• enchanted 
• enthralled 
• excited 
• intoxicated 
• mesmerized 
• thrilled