Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of fascinate are allure, attract, captivate, charm, and enchant. While all these words mean "to draw another by exerting a powerful influence," fascinate suggests a magical influence and tends to stress the ineffectiveness of attempts to resist.

a story that continues to fascinate children

When could allure be used to replace fascinate?

The words allure and fascinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, allure implies an enticing by what is fair, pleasing, or seductive.

an alluring smile

When is attract a more appropriate choice than fascinate?

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

students attracted by the school's locale

How are the words charm and captivate related as synonyms of fascinate?

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 would enchant be a good substitute for fascinate?

While the synonyms enchant and fascinate are close in meaning, 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

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 fascinate This blurring of the distinction between machines and humans would surely have fascinated even Turing himself. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025 Architecture + Design Reaching high into the sky, these marvels of engineering and design will fascinate more than just the architecture lover Skyscrapers that seem to rise endlessly above the cities at their feet fascinate more than just architecture enthusiasts. Nathalie Nietzsche-Knappe, Architectural Digest, 9 Apr. 2025 Police said Polyakov was drawn to the island due to his passion for adventure and extreme challenges, and was fascinated by the mystique of the Sentinelese people. Rajesh Roy, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2025 She is fascinated by the interplay between gender, money and power. Meredith Moore, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fascinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for 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
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
Verb
  • Encourage your student to reach out to local professors or professionals in fields that genuinely interest them, rather than focusing solely on prestigious summer programs with low acceptance rates.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
  • As always, there’s been chatter about the identity of the season’s inevitable casualty and the circumstances behind their death, which has never been a level on which White Lotus interested me.
    Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
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
Verb
  • Bowen-Fontenot, the senior version of the brother-sister act, was thrilled with her time.
    Steve Brand, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
  • All of those very different shows should be thrilling in their own ways — and, at last check, tickets were still available for the remaining Barron SFJAZZ dates at sfjazzz.com.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • His true passion lies in connecting with global audiences, particularly those intrigued by the nuanced art of leading in times of crisis.
    Hilary Tetenbaum, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
  • But the character description intrigued Lee, a Korean-American actor, because the role was written as a character of Korean descent.
    Liz Rothaus Bertrand, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As a first-time visitor to Saudi, I was captivated by Nujuma’s insights into the nation’s culture.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
  • While taking a break from brainstorming, van Bruggen was drawn to a Frederic Remington painting of Native Americans, particularly captivated by the depiction of feathers.
    Courtney Lane, Kansas City Star, 15 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Once the age checks were done, the opening bars to the FIFA anthem crackled through the stadium speakers, and the players filed onto the field, gripping the hands of the young local players escorting them.
    Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 13 Apr. 2025
  • In fact, her personal hatred of gripping challenges even served as her Survivor hot take below.
    Dalton Ross, EW.com, 10 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fascinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fascinate. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fascinate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!