as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of engrossing
Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
But between their superb music and equally engrossing live show, Wednesday's fate is looking far more promising.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
This sandwich is engrossing, emphatically flavorful and satisfyingly hearty.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for engrossing
Adjective
Winner of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Play, the taut, engrossing and beautifully scripted play is evocatively and creatively staged by director Kim Strassburger in an arena-style production in Cygnet’s black-box Dottie Studio Theatre.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
But between their superb music and equally engrossing live show, Wednesday's fate is looking far more promising.
—Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
From my time with the game so far, Marathon already packs lots of engrossing lore and little stories as part of its codex entries, audio logs, dialogue sequences, and surprising cutscenes.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
This sandwich is engrossing, emphatically flavorful and satisfyingly hearty.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for engrossing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engrossing
Adjective
-
An interesting wine list includes English sparkling wines like Hundred Hills, and there are 5,000 more bottles in the cellar.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
-
The psychologist found these analogies interesting.—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
And while the company presented more data on that drug Tuesday, showing promising first-line and combination data on daraxonrasib, scientists also showed in another session intriguing preclinical data on a completely new compound that may represent what comes after the current lineup.—
Angus Chen,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
-
There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Plus, wool's texture makes the toy more engaging for cats.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
18 May 2026
-
By creating shareable, engaging content, marketers aim to have their message spread exponentially, like a virus transmitting itself through a population.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The optometrist first gained recognition in 1969 for pioneering ultraviolet (UV) and blue-light–absorbing lens technology, which has helped reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration worldwide.—
Sofia Baltodano,
Miami Herald,
20 May 2026
-
As the lens follows Dua, often up close and from behind, this mode of expression proves alternately absorbing and alienating.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
As in previous seasons, the production is expected to fully or partially buy out its hotel locations while immersing itself deeply in the surrounding destination.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
West is great at immersing us in the atmosphere and mores of the 1800s, in which Elswyth can’t find the time to use her skills in botany (she’s been accepted at Oxford) because her real job is finding someone to support her and her family.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Engrossing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engrossing. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
