captivate

verb

ˈkap-tə-ˌvāt How to pronounce captivate (audio)
Definition of captivatenext
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

Synonym Chooser

How is the word captivate different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of captivate are allure, attract, charm, enchant, and fascinate. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," charm implies the power of casting a spell over the person or thing affected and so compelling a response, but it may, like captivate, suggest no more than evoking delight or admiration.

charmed by their hospitality
her performances captivated audiences

When can allure be used instead of captivate?

In some situations, the words allure and captivate are roughly equivalent. However, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When could attract be used to replace captivate?

The meanings of attract and captivate largely overlap; however, attract applies to any degree or kind of ability to exert influence over another.

students attracted by the school's locale

When would enchant be a good substitute for captivate?

While in some cases nearly identical to captivate, enchant is perhaps the strongest of these terms in stressing the appeal of the agent and the degree of delight evoked in the subject.

hopelessly enchanted by her beauty

When might fascinate be a better fit than captivate?

While the synonyms fascinate and captivate are close in meaning, fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

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 captivate Think of home runs in baseball, and the fan’s mind races to the mammoth distances a ball can fly when slugged right on the nose, or a history-making chase that captivates a nation. —Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 From the filming locations to shooting schedule, 'Adolescence' was captured with purpose Comments Adolescence is captivating audiences with its intense storyline and cinematic delivery. —Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025 While their on-court performances have captivated fans, their relationship off the court is equally compelling. —Nasha Smith, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025 If its gorgeous landscapes and historic, atmospheric streets captivate filmmakers, they’re guaranteed to enchant travelers looking for a visually spectacular and culturally rich destination. —AFAR Media, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
  1. fascinate
  2. entice
  3. enchant
  4. charm
  5. delight
  6. seduce
Verb
  • Football content creator Will Powell — better known by his social media pseudonym, Bryan’s Gunn — has always been fascinated by the linguistic quirks and tropes of football.
    — James McNicholas, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Laura is particularly fascinated by all things aquatic, paleontology, nanotechnology, and exploring how science influences daily life.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 3 Apr. 2025
Definition of fascinate
Verb
  • 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
  • Those touches are some of the reasons that entice fans to buy from brands.
    — John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025
Definition of entice
Verb
  • This can also affect your communication abilities, granting you more inspiration and eloquence to enchant others through your writing or speech.
    — Kyle Thomas, People.com, 30 Mar. 2025
  • That actress got married on Saturday, March 29 PEOPLE has confirmed, on a secluded coastal estate with acres of enchanting woodlands and an Edwardian castle.
    — Shania Russell, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025
Definition of enchant
Verb
  • 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
  • Consider how former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann charmed investors and employees with his vision, despite unsustainable business practices.
    — Nuala Walsh, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
Definition of charm
Verb
  • Henry Fonda belonged to a bygone Hollywood era of stories and role models geared to delighting moviegoers’ curiosity.
    — Armond White, National Review, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Ahead, discover 20 options designed to delight every type of bride (and to come in handy when the occasion calls for it).
    — Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2025
Definition of delight
Verb
  • Single women—more likely, naturally, to be seduced by the devil—were disproportionately executed for witchcraft.
    — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Taking over a century-old garden house hidden within Shanghai’s storied alleys, Samuel Gui Yang softly partitioned the space, seducing the audience yet making every one of them a clandestine voyeur.
    — Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Apr. 2025
Definition of seduce

Browse Nearby Words

captiousness
captivate
captivated
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Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of captivate for Spanish Speakers

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