spellbinding 1 of 3

spellbinding

2 of 3

noun

spellbinding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of spellbind
as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 spellbinding
Adjective
Check out its first direct image of a gas giant exoplanet as well as a spellbinding view of the Phantom Galaxy. Ashley Strickland and Katie Hunt, CNN, 3 Sep. 2022 This easy pullout on the Kancamagus Highway brings motorists face-to-face with a spellbinding view of the White Mountains that stretches on for miles. Emily Pennington, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2022 The most spellbinding moment of the night came afterward, as the crew switched out James Krivchenia’s kick drum. Justin Curto, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2021 Though the future of Venice is uncertain, the Pearl of the Adriatic remains one of the most spellbinding and iconic destinations in Europe. Hannah Walhout, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2020 See All Example Sentences for spellbinding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbinding
Adjective
  • In 100 riveting profiles, top basketball writers justify their selections and uncover the history of the NBA in the process.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • This 2010 drama is a riveting movie about a woman (Juliette Binoche) and man (William Shimell) who seem to be meeting and flirting for the first time … but then maybe not.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 25 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • At first glance, however, Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, with its whimsical magic and fantastical elements, is an unlikely fit for Soviet children’s literature, which favored themes of hard work and collective struggle over wish fulfillment and enchantment.
    Christin Bohnke, JSTOR Daily, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Sometimes Goodman seems a little too audibly aware of the enchantment of her formula.
    Sarah Larson, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Over the course of two-and-a-half hours, a caravan of singers, musician and actors — some associated with her, some not necessarily — sang and read Smith’s words, an ongoing testament to the still hypnotic grip of her songs and poems.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2025
  • In keeping with the hypnotic, spirited vibe of all Half Magic goodies (the brand is the brainchild of Euphoria head makeup artist Donni Davy, so duh), the Magic Flik Eyeliner breaks the mold with a unique, flexible paddle tip.
    Annie Blackman, Allure, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • But if there is some kind of bewitchment going on in these encounters, Evelyn is entirely immune.
    Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2025
  • By the end, the production seems to be working extra hard to keep the show’s seductiveness level from sinking, pumping in the odd flicker of magic whenever the score falls down on the job of bewitchment.
    Vulture, Vulture, 17 Nov. 2023
Adjective
  • The devices themselves, both their engrossing content and their blue light, keep kids up later into the night, in turn reducing their sleep.
    Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Todd Field’s wholly engrossing drama is about a world-class conductor and composer, Lydia Tár, who is at the top of her field.
    Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • At the club, time allows automatisms and structure to become habit.
    Philipp Lahm, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Their players look connected, know where each other are and play with fluidity and automatism.
    Charlotte Harpur, The Athletic, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Elsewhere in the interview, the Australian actress revealed that the movie — in which Kidman plays a woman having an affair with a younger man — was thrilling for her.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
  • With such fine margins at play, a thrilling title race is effectively guaranteed.
    Neel Shelat, Forbes, 1 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Long live the Eras Tour with our enchanting book Saunders' widest reach may have come through Eras Tour, but his entertainment resume extends beyond the record-breaking show.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Oliveira remembers the family’s chauffeur: recalling an enchanting ride home late at night, the filmmaker gets the twenty-first-century Porto to stand in, through the windows of an antique car, for the city of his youth.
    Richard Brody, New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spellbinding. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

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