[syn: bewitching, captivating, enchanting, enthralling, entrancing, fascinating]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
fascinating \fascinating\ adj.
1. capable of holding the attention; as, a fascinating story.
Syn: absorbing, engrossing, gripping, riveting, spellbinding.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. capturing interest as if by a spell; as, a fascinating
woman.
Syn: bewitching, captivating, enchanting, enthralling,
entrancing.
[WordNet 1.5]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Fascinate \Fas"ci*nate\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Fascinated, p.
pr. & vb. n.. Fascinating.] [L. fascinare; cf. Gr.
?????????? to slander, bewitch.]
1. To influence in an uncontrollable manner; to operate on by
some powerful or irresistible charm; to bewitch; to
enchant.
[1913 Webster]
It has been almost universally believed that . . .
serpents can stupefy and fascinate the prey which
they are desirous to obtain. --Griffith
(Cuvier).
[1913 Webster]
2. To excite and allure irresistibly or powerfully; to charm;
to captivate, as by physical or mental charms.
[1913 Webster]
There be none of the passions that have been noted
to fascinate or bewitch but love and envy. --Bacon.
Syn: To charm; enrapture; captivate; enchant; bewitch;
attract.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
fascinating
adj 1: capable of arousing and holding the attention; "a
fascinating story" [syn: absorbing, engrossing,
fascinating, gripping, riveting]
2: capturing interest as if by a spell; "bewitching smile";
"Roosevelt was a captivating speaker"; "enchanting music";
"an enthralling book"; "antique papers of entrancing design";
"a fascinating woman" [syn: bewitching, captivating,
enchanting, enthralling, entrancing, fascinating]
Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0:
105 Moby Thesaurus words for "fascinating":
Circean, absorbing, alluring, appealing, appetizing, arresting,
attractive, beguiling, bewildering, bewitching, blandishing,
cajoling, captivating, catching, charismatic, charming, coaxing,
come-hither, consuming, coquettish, delectable, delightful,
enchanting, engaging, engrossing, enigmatic, enravishing,
enthralling, enticing, entrancing, exceptional, exciting, exotic,
exquisite, extraordinary, fabulous, fantastic, fetching,
flirtatious, glamorous, gripping, heart-robbing, holding, hypnotic,
illusionary, illusive, illusory, incomprehensible, inconceivable,
incredible, interesting, intriguing, inviting, irresistible,
lovely, luxurious, magnetic, marvelous, mesmeric, mesmerizing,
miraculous, mouth-watering, obsessing, obsessive, outlandish,
passing strange, phenomenal, piquant, prepossessing, prodigious,
provocative, provoquant, puzzling, rare, ravishing, remarkable,
seducing, seductive, sensational, sensuous, siren, sirenic,
spellbinding, spellful, strange, striking, stupendous, taking,
tantalizing, teasing, tempting, thrilling, tickling, titillating,
titillative, unheard-of, unimaginable, unique, unprecedented,
voluptuous, winning, winsome, witching, wonderful, wondrous