captivating

adjective

cap·​ti·​vat·​ing ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ How to pronounce captivating (audio)
: charmingly or irresistibly appealing
a captivating aroma
It's an utterly exotic combination of flavors, and a completely captivating one.Howard Seftel
Books with captivating stories and bright, uncomplicated artwork will enchant the very young without being too demanding.Ed Zotti
A captivating storyteller, he conveys the cozy domesticity of the small-time growers as well as the Technicolor style of life of the big deal-makers.Alison Friesinger
captivatingly adverb
a captivatingly sweet voice
Each room is named for a month, and January through December are captivatingly filled with fanciful hearts, flowers, and vines that trail over the beds, chests, and wardrobes. Mimi Elder

Examples of captivating in a Sentence

a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
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But equally captivating is the Okavango Delta, a vast inland wetland formed where the Okavango River fans out across the Kalahari Desert. Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 20 May 2025 In fact, much of it is inaccurate or misleading, raising a serious health communication problem: Fake health information – whether shared unknowingly and innocently, or deliberately to mislead or cause harm – can be far more captivating than accurate information. Angshuman K. Kashyap, The Conversation, 16 May 2025 Behind these thriving ecosystems is an equally complex — though perhaps not nearly as captivating — ecosystem of laws, policies and civic engagement. Elise Bennett, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2025 The Season 15 finale, which featured a dark and disturbing confrontation between Brynn Whitfield and Ubah Hassan, was undoubtedly captivating. Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivating

Word History

First Known Use

1675, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of captivating was in 1675

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Cite this Entry

“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

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