as in to fascinate
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in appeal
the power of irresistible attraction
by some mysterious method of captivation, the therapist is able to evoke a response from even the shiest of children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of captivate
Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Minimalist artists Sol LeWitt, Frank Stella and Donald Judd seemed to know this, captivating us with the addicting lucidity of their stark lines, colors and shapes.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
From millennial pink to mocha mousse, countless color trends have captivated fashion and beauty.
—Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 10 Apr. 2025
With an impressive voice cast featuring Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, and Forest Whitaker among others, this film should captivate audiences in a fresh way.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Verb
Taken to the theater by his cousin, he was captivated by Michael Jackson's portrayal of the Scarecrow in The Wiz.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025
Minimalist artists Sol LeWitt, Frank Stella and Donald Judd seemed to know this, captivating us with the addicting lucidity of their stark lines, colors and shapes.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
From millennial pink to mocha mousse, countless color trends have captivated fashion and beauty.
—Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 10 Apr. 2025
With an impressive voice cast featuring Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, and Forest Whitaker among others, this film should captivate audiences in a fresh way.
—Devonne Goode, Parents, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
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My own experience with autoimmune encephalitis—a disease that distorted my reality, sending me into psychosis and delusions—had left me fascinated by the potentials and limits of our minds.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Vogue,
14 Apr. 2025
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People with autism, for example, tend to have special interests that result in in-depth knowledge or passion about a topic, says Khan, who recalls a patient fascinated by vacuums.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The sleek all-black upper, paired with black rubber pods on the outsole, embodies the sultry and timeless appeal of a black shoe versatile enough to be worn anywhere.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
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Zendaya may be filming a movie off the coast of Sicily, but her off-duty ensemble has universal appeal.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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One reason is that in order to entice people to buy its stock, a company needs to offer potential shareholders something in return.—
Jenny Van Leeuwen Harrington,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2025
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Those touches are some of the reasons that entice fans to buy from brands.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Anyone who has been reading these columns knows of my fascination with history.—
Steven Desmyter,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Always an early adopter of cutting-edge visual technology, Dea’s fascination with the blend of painting and cinematic technique began at the University of Hartford’s Hartford Art School.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Instead, the show will enchant audiences on West 57th Street in the old Lee’s Art Shop building.—
Sharareh Drury,
People.com,
11 Apr. 2025
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Vara, like many of her readers, is both enchanted by the web and disgusted with the companies that control it.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Wynn-Williams was horrified by the situation, but Zuckerberg — charmed by Dzodan’s allegiance to him in the face of possible prosecution by a nation with strict internet laws — wanted to celebrate the moment with a Facebook post, Wynn-Williams says.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
21 Mar. 2025
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Consider how former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann charmed investors and employees with his vision, despite unsustainable business practices.—
Nuala Walsh,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Another new attraction on Sentosa Island is the Sentosa Sensoryscape, an approximately 10-minute-long experiential walk made up of digital light projections and glowing art, which opened in March 2024.—
Nicole Trilivas,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The park has grown to include over 50 attractions, the most recent being Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by The Princess and the Frog.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Founded in 1970 by Erwin Little and his wife, Diane, the family-run business has delighted generations with its handcrafted, high-quality chocolates.—
Tammy Ljungblad,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2025
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The video has delighted internet users, leading to more than 621,300 views and 48,500 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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