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View synonyms for fascinate

fascinate

[ fas-uh-neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.
  1. to attract and hold attentively by a unique power, personal charm, unusual nature, or some other special quality; enthrall:

    His natural vivacity fascinates and dominates his audience, leading them wherever he will.

    Synonyms: delight, charm, spellbind, enchant, bewitch

  2. to arouse the interest or curiosity of:

    As I learned about ancient Egyptian religion, I found elements that fascinated me.

  3. to transfix or deprive of the power of resistance, as through terror:

    The sight of the snake fascinated the rabbit.

  4. Obsolete. to bewitch.
  5. Obsolete. to cast under a spell by a look.


verb (used without object)

, fas·ci·nat·ed, fas·ci·nat·ing.
  1. to capture the interest or hold the attention.

fascinate

/ ˈfæsɪˌneɪt /

verb

  1. to attract and delight by arousing interest or curiosity

    his stories fascinated me for hours

  2. to render motionless, as with a fixed stare or by arousing terror or awe
  3. archaic.
    to put under a spell


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Usage

A person can be fascinated by or with another person or thing. It is correct to speak of someone's fascination with a person or thing; one can also say a person or thing has a fascination for someone

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Derived Forms

  • ˈfasciˌnatedly, adverb
  • ˈfascinative, adjective
  • ˌfasciˈnation, noun

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Other Words From

  • fas·ci·na·tive adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinate1

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin fascinātus, past participle of fascināre “to bewitch, cast a spell on,” verbal derivative of fascinum “evil spell, bewitchment”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of fascinate1

C16: from Latin fascināre , from fascinum a bewitching

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Example Sentences

I have always been fascinated by enmeshed relationships, I think is not an unfair way of putting it.

From Vox

After some 400 million years of evolution, spiders’ forms and uses of silk fascinate researchers like Greco, who are looking for new materials.

Another topic that’s long fascinated me, also having to do with the mind, is memory.

Krans’s interest in aviation goes back to the 1980s, when his dad, a machinist fascinated by engineering and innovative planes, would sometimes bring home jet models.

I’m also fascinated by Honey’s story of managing a chronic pain condition in the midst of a pandemic, especially when so many of their symptoms present similarly to Covid-19 symptoms.

From Vox

His conservatism, which is more of a cultural than political kidney, seems to fascinate, delight or detract critics.

The performances that shook Kansas City's underground culture decades ago still continues to fascinate onlookers today.

The region continues to fascinate me and the number of interesting producers keeps growing and growing.

“Partial disclosures of male closeness fascinate me,” he says.

What does fascinate Jünger, and about which he has the most interesting things to say, is the issue of physical courage.

This man was indubitably clever, and to a less educated eye than Gwynne's his face would appeal and fascinate.

Och, and the girls whose poor hearts you deracinate, Whirl and bewilder and flutter and fascinate!

The picture seemed to fascinate her as though it were the reflection of some stranger.

Brave as the young man was, he could not support the cold and sea-green eye of the hideous bird, which appeared to fascinate him.

You would fascinate the great ones of the earth, and they would tell you tales of State that would help the great cause.

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