as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in riveting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in enchantment
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spellbinding
Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2022
Check out its first direct image of a gas giant exoplanet as well as a spellbinding view of the Phantom Galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022
This easy pullout on the Kancamagus Highway brings motorists face-to-face with a spellbinding view of the White Mountains that stretches on for miles.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2022
The most spellbinding moment of the night came afterward, as the crew switched out James Krivchenia’s kick drum.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Verb
To keep your eyes fixed on him throughout a match is both spellbinding and deadly dull.
—Jody Rosen, The New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2022
Check out its first direct image of a gas giant exoplanet as well as a spellbinding view of the Phantom Galaxy.
—Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022
This easy pullout on the Kancamagus Highway brings motorists face-to-face with a spellbinding view of the White Mountains that stretches on for miles.
—Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2022
The most spellbinding moment of the night came afterward, as the crew switched out James Krivchenia’s kick drum.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
-
The movie is a real-world thriller that’s also a riveting character study that’s also a portrait of the place where the reactionary politics of today curdles into obsession.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 July 2025
-
Like the rest of the hotel, the 179 rooms eschew boring and beige in favor of riveting and red.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
Travelers come from across the globe to hike the trails, gaze in awe at the falls and granite rockfaces, and immerse themselves in the enchantment of the park.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
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According to the press release, Kittitas County authorities, along with human remains detection dogs, searched the Crystal Creek Drainage from the enchantments out to Ingalls Creek last week.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
1 July 2025
Adjective
-
Even so, as Jerry delivers his hokum, Offerman invests it with a hypnotic clarity, a sense that Jerry is trying to create a rational and just world — to create salvation — out of the irrational.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 July 2025
-
The aquarium has been a pioneer from the start, unveiling the world’s first living kelp forest exhibit and debuting large-scale displays of jellyfish—hypnotic creatures that pulse rhythmically through the glowing blue waters.—
Brittany Anas,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Her work, then, is the work of resuscitation via bewitchment.—
Ocean Vuong,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
-
But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Elsewhere in the interview, the Australian actress revealed that the movie — in which Kidman plays a woman having an affair with a younger man — was thrilling for her.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
-
With such fine margins at play, a thrilling title race is effectively guaranteed.—
Neel Shelat,
Forbes,
1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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One surprising element: engrossing display cases with zines and memorabilia of daily life during the fraught era of Rodney King and the AIDS epidemic.—
Christopher Knight,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
-
The latter, like the other elaborate handscrolls on display, warrants microscopic examination, so engrossing are the endless tiny details.—
Lori Waxman,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
At the club, time allows automatisms and structure to become habit.—
Philipp Lahm,
The Athletic,
24 Mar. 2025
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Their players look connected, know where each other are and play with fluidity and automatism.—
Charlotte Harpur,
The Athletic,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The 24 rooms and suites are enchanting, but the greatest riches are found in the former vault, which once stored gold bars and furs and has now been transformed into the Simmer Down cocktail bar.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
-
Clad in a black, flowy dress with chains swinging around their waist, Dua Saleh’s whispery cadence gave her an enchanting presence over the room.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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