Captivating — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ/ cap·ti·vat·ing

Meaning & Definition of Captivating

Captivating (adjective)

  1. charmingly or irresistibly appealing

Captivating (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having an often mysterious or magical power to attract

    "a captivating performance by the young singing sensation"

    similar: alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, luring, magnetic, seductive
    related: absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, enticing, tantalizing, tempting, exciting, haunting, interesting, intriguing, titillating, beckoning, inviting, winning, darling, delightful, pleasant, pleasing
    opposite: repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring
    near: boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening, drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden, monotonous, pedestrian, ponderous

Captivating (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to attract or delight as if by magic

    "the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks"

    similar: alluring, beguiling, bewitching, charming, enchanting, fascinating, killing, magnetizing, wiling, witching (archaic)
    related: disarming, drawing, enticing, luring, pulling, seducing, tempting, delighting, gratifying, pleasing, arresting, enrapturing, enthralling, entrancing, appealing (to), interesting, intriguing, beckoning, courting, inviting, soliciting, wooing
    near: disgusting, offending, repelling, revolting, annoying, displeasing, irking, boring, tiring, wearying

Related Entry: Captivate (verb)

Captivate is a different word from Captivating. The synonyms below are for captivate, not for captivating.

  1. to attract or delight as if by magic

    "the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks"

    similar: allure, beguile, bewitch, charm, enchant, fascinate, kill, magnetize, wile, witch (archaic)
    related: disarm, draw, entice, lure, pull, seduce, tempt, delight, gratify, please, arrest, enrapture, enthrall, entrance, appeal (to), interest, intrigue, beckon, court, invite, solicit, woo
    near: disgust, offend, repel, revolt, annoy, displease, irk, bore, tire, weary

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Captivating

The most common words with a similar meaning to Captivating:

Archaic: witching
alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, glamorous, luring, magnetic, seductive, beguiling, killing, magnetizing, wiling

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Captivating

Words with the opposite meaning of Captivating:

repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting, unalluring

Related Words for Captivating

absorbing, arresting, engrossing, enthralling, galvanic, gripping, hypnotic, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, riveting, spellbinding, enticing, tantalizing, tempting, exciting, haunting, interesting, intriguing, titillating, beckoning, inviting, winning, darling, delightful, pleasant, pleasing, disarming, drawing, pulling, seducing

Near Antonyms of Captivating

boring, irksome, tedious, tiresome, wearisome, abhorrent, abominable, appalling, awful, distasteful, hideous, horrendous, horrible, horrid, invidious, loathsome, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, odious, offensive, shocking, sickening, drab, dreary, dull, flat, humdrum, jading, leaden

Word Forms of Captivating

Derived words: captivatingly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Captivating

First known use: 1675

Frequently Asked Questions about Captivating

What does "Captivating" mean?

"Captivating" means charmingly or irresistibly appealing. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: charmingly or irresistibly appealing. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Captivating"?

Other words for "Captivating" include alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, charismatic, charming, elfin and enchanting. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Captivating" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Captivating"?

There are 58 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Captivating". Common alternatives include alluring, appealing, attractive, bewitching, charismatic, charming, elfin, enchanting, engaging and entrancing.

What is the opposite of "Captivating"?

Antonyms of "Captivating" include repellent, repelling, repugnant, repulsive, revolting and unalluring. Near antonyms include boring, irksome, tedious and tiresome.

How do you use "Captivating" in a sentence?

Examples of "Captivating" in a sentence: "a captivating performance by the young singing sensation"; "the clown captivated the toddlers with his balloon tricks".

Is "Captivating" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Captivating" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Captivating"?

"Captivating" is pronounced /ˈkap-tə-ˌvā-tiŋ/ and divided into syllables as cap·ti·vat·ing.

What is the origin of the word "Captivating"?

First known use: 1675.