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 Taken to the theater by his cousin, he was captivated by Michael Jackson's portrayal of the Scarecrow in The Wiz. —Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Minimalist artists Sol LeWitt, Frank Stella and Donald Judd seemed to know this, captivating us with the addicting lucidity of their stark lines, colors and shapes. —Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025 From millennial pink to mocha mousse, countless color trends have captivated fashion and beauty. —Karina Hoshikawa, Refinery29, 10 Apr. 2025 With an impressive voice cast featuring Uma Thurman, Mark Hamill, and Forest Whitaker among others, this film should captivate audiences in a fresh way. —Devonne Goode, Parents, 10 Apr. 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
  • People with autism, for example, tend to have special interests that result in in-depth knowledge or passion about a topic, says Khan, who recalls a patient fascinated by vacuums.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Noah Carrigan has always been fascinated by trucks.
    — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 14 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
  • Instead, the show will enchant audiences on West 57th Street in the old Lee’s Art Shop building.
    — Sharareh Drury, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Vara, like many of her readers, is both enchanted by the web and disgusted with the companies that control it.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 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
  • Founded in 1970 by Erwin Little and his wife, Diane, the family-run business has delighted generations with its handcrafted, high-quality chocolates.
    — Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 17 Apr. 2025
  • The video has delighted internet users, leading to more than 621,300 views and 48,500 likes on TikTok at the time of writing.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Definition of delight
Verb
  • The musical’s first act opens with the Moulin Rouge on the verge of closing, unless Satine can seduce a wealthy duke into becoming its patron — but for the moment, these financial woes are hidden behind the club’s glamorous veneer.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Sherri Parlay, a good woman with a high libido, is seduced into murder by the beguiling heir to a dry-cleaning fortune.
    — Sara Gran, New York Times, 24 Mar. 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 22 Apr. 2025.

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Nglish: Translation of captivate for Spanish Speakers

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