Definition of CAPTIVATING (original) (raw)
: charmingly or irresistibly appealing
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
Synonyms
Examples of captivating in a Sentence
a captivating performance by the young singing sensation
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As captivating as the suspense is the provocative exploration of working with a helpful (yet annoying) colleague who’s not quite human. —Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025 Playwright Lloyd Suh creates a captivating portrayal of intelligent, curious and creative women navigating the challenges of a new country. —Encinitas Advocate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025 Don’t overdo it While TikTok’s 10+ step skincare routines are captivating, skinimalism is the ultimate skincare mantra for 2025. —Varsha Patel, refinery29.com, 29 Dec. 2024 What’s more captivating is the psychology around this reverse in results, as Pep Guardiola’s lineup swaps title ambitions for a push to make the Champions League places. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024 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
Dictionary Entries Near captivating
Cite this Entry
“Captivating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/captivating. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.
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Last Updated: 16 Jan 2025 - Updated example sentences
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