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Synonyms

spellbinder

American  
[spel-bahyn-der] / ˈspɛlˌbaɪn dər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that spellbinds, especially a powerful speaker who can captivate an audience.


spellbinder British  
/ ˈspɛlˌbaɪndə /

noun

  1. a person capable of holding others spellbound, esp a political speaker

  2. a novel, play, etc, that holds one enthralled

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of spellbinder

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90; spellbind + -er 1

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.

See Examples For:

“Kingdom of the Blind” is the 14th mystery in the Inspector Gamache series — and it’s a spellbinder.

From Washington Post Nov. 27, 2018

He was a born spellbinder, a man guided by voices.

From New York Times May 23, 2018

This performance was, more often than not, a spellbinder.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 20, 2017

In which case Hodgson will use the Mascherano bounty to mount a bid for Carlton Cole, whose similarity to a nifty Brazilian spellbinder is plain to see.

From The Guardian Aug. 10, 2010

Sylvia, in the course of her letter, confined herself to impartial narrative, and began with the event of the spellbinder, which Harley had told to her in detail.

From The Candidate A Political Romance by Joseph A. (Joseph Alexander) Altsheler

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