as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
a riveting explanation of light waves that fascinated the class
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in focusing
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of riveting
Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
The riveting thriller’s ending divided viewers when it was released in October, with some feeling the film pulled a punch by wrapping on a cliffhanger, leaving the audience unsure if a rogue ICBM destroyed Chicago, and how the film’s president (Idris Elba) responded.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 29 Dec. 2025
The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
What makes the best podcasts riveting?
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riveting
Adjective
After losing by 40 last season to Marshfield, the Boxers nearly flipped the script in a riveting 79-58 contest with a stout defense and timely offense.
—Verb
But what if the NFL did away with the not-exactly-riveting TV coin toss while also making coaches think twice about wanting to receive the ball in overtime?
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveting
Adjective
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The Cowboys have mastered the art of entertaining and interesting better than any sports franchise in the world, but there is a redundancy that to the person who spends a lot of their money on it is justifiably checked out.—
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Seeing these guys unapologetically portrayed by an actor whose superpower is the audience is always with him was interesting.—
Verb
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This Iranian regime has spent years focusing outside its borders on fomenting terrorism and aggression in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Yemen, Gaza, instead of listening to the needs of its own citizens.—
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This shows that focusing on quality, technology, and caring for patients is the best way to achieve medical excellence today.—
Adjective
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But a new study has cast doubt on the idea that the intriguing world shrouded in ice could indeed harbor extraterrestrial life deep in its vast ocean of liquid saltwater.—
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The most intriguing combo of late, though, features Robertson, Nicolas Roy and Easton Cowan.—
Verb
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Institutional investors typically buy single-family homes to rent them out, often concentrating in suburban neighborhoods around major metro areas, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.—
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The group was founded in collaboration with the public health organization Institute for Public Strategies with the primary purpose of concentrating on the environment of Lemon Grove.—
Adjective
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But things got fascinating at the end, with Ole Miss going 40 yards in just a few seconds to set up a Hail Mary for the win.—
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The medical ordeals are traumatic and disgusting, but fascinating and full of the quirks of modern life.—
Adjective
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Their ongoing collaboration makes for an eclectic and engaging body of work.—
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Another way to make snowshoeing even more engaging?—
Adjective
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Its quick-absorbing formula feels weightless on the skin—a plus in sensitive, post-treatment times.—
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Béla Tarr, a giant of world cinema whose absorbing, challenging films helped define the minimalist arthouse style named slow cinema, died on Monday.—
Cite this Entry
“Riveting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveting. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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