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fascinating

fascinating

596 2.0
Very interesting in a way that keeps your attention
  • adjective
  • /ˈfæsɪneɪtɪŋ/
: fascinante
  • The documentary about the universe was absolutely fascinating and kept everyone engaged.
  • find it fascinating
  • a fascinating story
  • a fascinating book

But it's a you're a fascinating person to ask.

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Examples

  • That is a fascinating question.

  • Rose, beyond a doubt, this is the most fascinating experience of my life.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • And it's it's a fascinating case study.

  • Anyway, this is a fascinating talk and a wonderful book.

  • So I think, I mean, it's a fascinating situation.

  • Plus, you can visit great attractions and meet fascinating people in your area.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Many find the study of musical behavior a fascinating area for collaborative research efforts.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Archaeology: There are hundreds of ancient sites in the world that have really fascinating artwork.

    Academic text (2011)
  • There are some fascinating ramifications for the future.

  • I'd like to tell you about the fascinating life of Charles Grodin.

Synonyms

interesting
vsfascinating
∞ 1.0

Attracting attention because it is new, exciting, or makes you think

is stronger and more intense, moving beyond simple interest
attractive
vsfascinating
653 1.0

Pleasing to look at or enjoy and making people interested

is more powerful, creating a stronger and more lasting hold
compelling
vsfascinating
277 5.1

So strong, interesting, and convincing that people cannot ignore it

is strongly interesting but less about persuasion and more about charm
appealing
vsfascinating
168 2.3

Makes people like it, for example a friendly smile or a new idea

captures attention more strongly and often with striking charm
intriguing
vsfascinating
156 2.7

Making you want to know more because it seems strange or mysterious

draws attention more by broad appeal than by mystery
engaging
vsfascinating
72 3.5

Holding your attention because it is pleasant or interesting

is more intense and extreme in how much attention it captures
dazzling
vsfascinating
51 3.9

Very impressive and attractive in a way that gets attention

captures attention too but through interest or charm not only brilliance
riveting
vsfascinating
35 5.6

Makes you unable to stop paying attention

holds attention too but with charm rather than pure excitement
enchanting
vsfascinating
29 3.7

Very attractive in a way that feels like magic

is highly interesting but not always described as magical
gripping
vsfascinating
21 3.8

Very exciting and hard to stop watching or reading

is captivating too but leans more to appeal than drama
captivating
vsfascinating
20 4.2

Holding people's attention because it is pleasant and interesting

is more intense, stressing extreme interest or unusual charm
hypnotic
vsfascinating
17 6.1

Keeping your attention so you cannot look away

holds attention similarly but through general appeal rather than trance
scintillating
vsfascinating
10 8.1

Very clever and lively in speech or writing that keeps people interested

is very interesting too but not limited to clever or lively style
engrossing
vsfascinating
9 5.1

So interesting that it holds your full attention

attracts and holds attention but can be less complete in focus
enthralling
vsfascinating
7 5.8

Very interesting in a way that keeps your attention

is equally absorbing but with a broader charm rather than intensity
absorbing
vsfascinating
6 3.9

Very interesting and keeps your full attention

draws attention as well but often through charm rather than depth
bewitching
vsfascinating
5 6.6

Very attractive in a way that seems to cast a spell

is strongly attractive too but without implying a spelllike effect
spellbinding
vsfascinating
4 5.8

Makes you watch and listen because it feels like magic

captures attention broadly rather than suggesting literal magic
entrancing
vsfascinating
2 5.8

So beautiful or interesting that it holds your full attention

is similarly captivating but less explicitly trance inducing

Antonyms

792 1.0

Not interesting and making you feel tired or impatient

19 1.4

Not exciting and likely to make people bored

How Interesting

mesmerizing
  • US
16 5.5
captivating
20 4.2
fascinating
596 2.0
engaging
72 3.5
interesting
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

fascinating positive
fascinates comparative
fascinatingest superlative

Morphology

fascinating = fascinate (transparent) = fascinate + ing

Standard adjectival/present-participle formation from the verb 'fascinate', so the meaning 'extremely interesting or charming' is directly derived from the verb.

Etymology

The word fascinating comes from an old Latin verb fascinare, which meant 'to bewitch' or 'to charm'. So, something fascinating holds your attention like a 'spell' or a charm.