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Synonyms

fascinating

American  
[fas-uh-ney-ting] / ˈfæs əˌneɪ tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. of great interest or attraction; enchanting; charming; captivating.

    a fascinating story;

    fascinating jewelry.
fascinating British  
/ ˈfæsɪˌneɪtɪŋ /

adjective

  1. arousing great interest

  2. enchanting or alluring

    a fascinating woman
"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

Other Word Forms

  • fascinatingly adverb
  • half-fascinating adjective
  • half-fascinatingly adverb
  • quasi-fascinating adjective
  • quasi-fascinatingly adverb
  • unfascinating adjective

Etymology

Origin of fascinating

First recorded in 1640–50; fascinat(e) + -ing 2

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.

Made in collaboration with Aitor Mendilibar, the fascinating video imagines what black Shaker worship could be.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

It remains a fascinating match-up between two veterans with no clear favourite.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

Squid and cuttlefish are among the ocean's most fascinating animals, known for their color-changing skin and jet-like movement.

From Science Daily • Apr. 1, 2026

The first time “Buffy” ended, Gellar attempted to shake off the slayer with a slew of fascinating, genuinely provocative roles that utilized her skillset.

From Salon • Mar. 26, 2026

It's fascinating to see the incident morph and fester.

From "How It Went Down" by Kekla Magoon

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.