fascinate

verb

ˈfa-sə-ˌnāt How to pronounce fascinate (audio)
Definition of fascinatenext
1
as in to entice
to attract or delight as if by magic for years the zoo's family of giant pandas have fascinated visitors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to enchant
to hold the attention of as if by a spell I can gaze at the sea for hours, fascinated by the never-ending waves crashing upon the shore

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to interest
to hold the attention of the subject of artificial intelligence fascinates me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Nalla Roberts has been fascinated with tales like this for years, growing obsessed with Greek myths in her childhood. — Olivia Wakim, AJC.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Ashton was charming, funny, ridiculously handsome, and fascinated by all things tech. — Chuck Lorre, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026 Oracular methods such as automatism and tarot cards would lead Colquhoun down many paths in her search for knowledge, while the duality of the androgyne fascinated her in her art and writing. — Marina Warner, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026 But even at the tender age of 10, I was fascinated by the idea that a sentence could be illustrated. — Robert Klose, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fascinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fascinate
  1. entice
  2. enchant
  3. interest
  4. delight
  5. thrill
  6. intrigue
  7. captivate
  8. grip
Verb
  • But while Cartman and Ike are in Sephora, they get enticed into going into the backrooms with an employee, which look straight out of Kane Parsons’ horror film.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Some blame the content for not being enticing enough, while others contend that the programs could be promoted better on Netflix.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of entice
Verb
  • Harvest markets and ghostly performances also enchant—not to mention a Halloween express to convey guests.
    — Michelle Mastro, Midwest Living, 9 Oct. 2026
  • My daughter was enchanted by the Balinese rice-on-the-forehead ritual for good fortune that is a part of the arrival, and the front desk staff happily indulged her request to do it again—multiple times a day.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of enchant
Verb
  • With your background in documentaries, what interests you in that tension, particularly right now?
    — Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Clearly there’s something about the relationship between audience and performer that interests you.
    — Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of interest
Verb
  • The Nespresso devotee in your life will delight at the chance to try a different classic or limited-edition coffee capsule every day in the lead-up to Christmas.
    — Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Tse Yang was the finest Chinese restaurant to open in Madrid, and its crispy Peking Duck has been delighting locals for years.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of delight
Verb
  • For me, getting to explore the interior lives of women with a rejection towards society’s pressure to have to uphold some false perfection — that’s really thrilling for me as an artist.
    — Max Gao, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Sinners actress was captured bringing the biggest fan energy in the stands as Allen helped lead Buffalo to a thrilling 37-34 overtime win at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Monday.
    — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of thrill
Verb
  • Dumas was intrigued as Hermès was dealing with a generational crisis of how to evolve the company without losing its core customers.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
  • What intrigues you about taking this fish, who’s been out of water, and throwing him back into familiar waters?
    — Derek Lawrence, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of intrigue
Verb
  • Chiuri was captivated by its founder, known as Mimì, who championed artists, musicians and performers across Europe and America.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Young Hindoyan was particularly captivated by Jascha Heifetz’s violin sound and by the codas in every first movement of Bruckner’s symphonies.
    — Tim Greiving, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of captivate
Verb
  • The case has gripped Kenya since the discovery of the mass graves.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The European Commission Directorate-General for Enlargement and Eastern Neighborhood condemned the violence gripping Albania.
    — Chris Massaro, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of grip

Browse Nearby Words

farthest
fascinate
fascinated
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Cite this Entry

“Fascinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fascinate. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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