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 Abboud draws from global influences in her work and elevates timeless style with exquisite materials, vintage lighting, and captivating architectural elements. Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 25 Feb. 2025 The walls of the cars were covered with ads aimed at captivating a particular kind of person, and everyone on the train had the seed of that particular person somewhere inside themselves. Hannah Gold, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 For more than 70 years, the SS United States captivated the hearts and minds of Americans for her distinguished beauty. Forrest Brown, CNN, 19 Feb. 2025 The film’s captivating narrative, visuals and thematic exploration will surely appeal to audiences worldwide. Jamie Lang, Variety, 13 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for captivate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for captivate
Verb
  • Their affair gives poignant momentum to The Deepest Breath, which is fascinated with athletic obsession.
    Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The grand monuments, enigmatic gods, and legendary rulers of Ancient Egypt have fascinated the world for centuries.
    David Nikel, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But the black-and-white film about two Black couples, played by the same actors, living in Chicago during two different time periods, didn’t entice distributors.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Instead, General Catalyst is in rapid expansion mode — trying to build the sort of diversified, fee-generating asset base that would entice Wall Street analysts to use firms like Blackstone as comps.
    Dan Primack, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Visit during sunrise or sunset for enchanting views of Christoffelberg.
    Curaçao Tourist Board, AFAR Media, 26 Feb. 2025
  • The competition’s ultimate underdog story belongs to Calais and the team of talented and spirited fourth-tier part-timers who enchanted the whole of France by battling their way to the final in 2000.
    Tom Williams, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Finally, bloodsuckers from The Sims 4 Vampires can simply charm the burglar into leaving — after taking a quick sip from her, of course.
    Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025
  • Set on a slope above the village where Roger Moore lived, skied, charmed, and died, it is set on 45,000 acres overlooking a large swimming pool and a small, frozen lake.
    Rachel Johnson, airmail.news, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Since 1986, Dolores and Lupe Mendez have been delighting South Siders with soul-satisfying breakfast tacos and other early-morning staples like huevos rancheros.
    Edmund Tijerina, Bon Appétit, 27 Feb. 2025
  • The players’ receptiveness to the nickname delights Liam.
    Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Raúl Castillo plays against type and makes for a menacing, unstoppable presence in a genre homage that’s yell-at-the-scream enjoyable and seduces with its terrific cinematography from Daniel Katz.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2025
  • Carpenter wrapped her performance with a camera trick implying her attempt to seduce a member of the King’s Guard.
    Ashley Iasimone, Billboard, 1 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Captivate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/captivate. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.

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