as in to fascinate
to attract or delight as if by magic
the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks
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Recent Examples of captivate
In the world of sports, Pablo Torre, who spent more than a decade at ESPN, has captivated fans with his own version of the video investigation.
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Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2026
Two and three months ago, Wall Street was captivated by another stellar earnings season, a Federal Reserve resuming rate cuts into a steady economy and constant ecstatic new projections for AI spending.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Still, this nine-bedroom abode that spreads out over 16,500 square feet on interiors with an attached guest house has just enough rural charm (and luxuries) to captivate on its own.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 4 Jan. 2026
As for how Cohen managed to so effectively style the Mackage Kent-Glo High-Gloss Hooded Down Jacket — captivating throngs of viewers with his effortless, casual-cool aesthetic?
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
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Details of the service were kept private, but the family's public show of solidarity in turning out to support Caroline is typical of the Kennedy dynasty, which has fascinated Americans for decades.—
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Why does Kubrick’s work continue to fascinate, thrill, and move us?—
Verb
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Similar to fellow Arsenal summer signing Eberechi Eze — another keen chess player — the assumption would be that the skills taken from the board game have helped Zubimendi be a step ahead in enticing and then bypassing opposition players.—
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The algorithm, the Reddit user claimed, would save the higher-paying orders for casual drivers to entice them to use the app.—
Verb
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In real life, Emily was thoroughly charmed.—
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Only a few days ago, this 49ers season looked inexplicably charmed.—
Verb
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SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe.—
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The legendary basketball squad, which was founded in 1926, has been delighting sports fans and families now for a full century.—
Verb
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Released in 1994, Sátántangó (based on László Krasznahorka’s novel) chronicled an impoverished Hungarian village that becomes seduced by a would-be prophet who has seemingly come back from the dead.—
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This year, we were seduced by silver trays and a new take on the TV-dinner table.—
Cite this Entry
“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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