as in to fascinate
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Noah Whiteman, a professor of molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley, hailed the paper for demystifying a symbiotic relationship that has captivated scientists.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Jared Weiss, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Verb
In Budapest, Kaszas was captivated by two American TV shows.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Noah Whiteman, a professor of molecular and cell biology at UC Berkeley, hailed the paper for demystifying a symbiotic relationship that has captivated scientists.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Wembanyama’s captivation with the intricacies of space travel was apparent.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
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This is Taymor’s first production to embark on a national tour, and she’s been fascinated by the range of audience responses.—
Emily McClanathan,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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From legal aspirations to a life of art As a girl, I was fascinated by color, texture and creative expressions.—
Anya Sesay,
jsonline.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This dynamic has produced a range of figures, from the late Sathya Sai Baba, who claimed to perform miracles, to Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, whose appeal lies in his widely popular Art of Living Foundation, which offers yoga and spiritual advice.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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Savannah Guthrie opened the family’s plea by thanking supporters for their prayers before describing her mother as the heart of their family and making a direct appeal for contact, stressing Nancy Guthrie’s fragile health and urgent need for medication.—
Adam Sabes , Michael Ruiz , Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Eric Patrick, 31, pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom to attempting to entice a 15-year-old, whom Patrick and his husband, Richard Kowalczyk, met on Grindr, a dating app for gay men, according to Patrick’s plea agreement.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 Feb. 2026
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Part of what makes Joomra Pillow Slippers enticing is their waterproof design.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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One of the reasons to grow this plant is its attractiveness to Gulf fritillary butterflies, whose exclusive relationship with it parallels that of monarchs with milkweed.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
6 Feb. 2026
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United by their resentment of women, incels tend to see attractiveness as a straightforward function of genetics—millimeters, symmetry, skin color—and therefore out of their control.—
Thomas Chatterton Williams,
The Atlantic,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Your ability to charm bosses and VIPs will be excellent.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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The 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games will draw athletes and visitors to the towns in northern Italy that have been preparing for months to charm a global audience, investing in infrastructure and services to establish themselves as international destinations.—
Andrea Onate,
Footwear News,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Ward said her mother was fascinated with the mystery of Amelia Earhart, and that fascination turned into countless trips to air shows and museums.—
Kels Dayton,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
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Capasa highlighted how this will have an impact for the next 12 to 36 months, recalling the success of Milan’s Expo in 2015, and underscored the ongoing fascination between fashion and sports, pointing to the example of EA7 Emporio Armani outfitting the Italian team.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
10 Feb. 2026
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An artful renovation has given the Farmhouse—the sixth stay within the Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa campus—a distinctive design, with an impressive art collection and interiors that delight the eye.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The front steps of the iconic Haunted Mansion attraction at the park will be available as a location for visitors to tie the knot, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings & Honeymoons said in a Wednesday news release.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
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While Bad Bunny's halftime show is expected to be the marquee attraction, dozens of performances across San Francisco and the South Bay are set to draw music lovers in the days leading up to kickoff.—
Loureen Ayyoub,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.
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