Synonyms

fascinated

American

[fas-uh-ney-tid] / ˈfæs əˌneɪ tɪd /

adjective

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.
strongly interested or intrigued by something.

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

verb

the simple past tense and past participle of fascinate.

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of fascinated

fascinate ( def. ) + -ed 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.

Like many newcomers to Los Angeles, Smee, a 45-year-old former flight attendant, was fascinated by the city’s landscape and its famous palm trees when he first moved from England.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

"American audiences are fascinated by Royal Family psychodrama, especially where Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is currently concerned."

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Mummification has fascinated historians and scientists for centuries, yet many details about how ancient Egyptians preserved the dead have remained unclear.

From Science Daily • Mar. 16, 2026

The tool has fascinated tech circles worldwide but particularly in China, gripping tech-savvy companies and individuals keen to keep up with the next big thing in AI.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Millions of Soviets were avidly following the progress of the match, fascinated by Fischer’s mastery.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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