fascinates
Holds spellbound attention
Fascinates means to captivate or hold someone's attention completely.
What fascinates us draws us in and won't let go: The subject has fascinated scholars for centuries.
The word can also mean to render motionless, as a snake supposedly fascinates its prey before striking.
Something that fascinates may charm, intrigue, or mesmerize—the common thread is an almost hypnotic grip on attention.
Delights or bewitches
- beguilesDeceives by charming
- delightsGives intense pleasure
- captivatesHolds rapt attention
- allureAttractive, tempting quality
charisma · magnetism · appeal · winning · disarming · charming · winsome · bewitches
Desire to learn
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
- wonderAmazement or curiosity
questioning · probing · inquiry · investigation · piques · interests · arouses · stimulates
Completely capturing one's attention
- enthrallingDeeply fascinating and gripping
- spellbindingCompletely capturing one's attention
- rivetingCompletely holding one's attention
- grippingHolding attention completely
engrossing · absorbing · hypnotic · transfixing · entrancing · enchanting · bewitching · captivating
Persistent mental attachment
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
- infatuationShort-lived intense attraction
enthrallment · absorption · immersion · consuming · haunting · possessing · gripping · dominating
enchants
Delights or bewitches
- beguilesDeceives by charming
- delightsGives intense pleasure
- captivatesHolds rapt attention
allure · charisma · magnetism · appeal · winning · disarming · charming · winsome · bewitches · seduces
curiosity
Desire to learn
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
- enigmaSomething hard to fathom
- puzzleChallenge testing ingenuity
wonder · questioning · probing · inquiry · investigation · piques · interests · arouses · stimulates · provokes
mesmerizing
Completely capturing one's attention
- enthrallingDeeply fascinating and gripping
- spellbindingCompletely capturing one's attention
- rivetingCompletely holding one's attention
gripping · engrossing · absorbing · hypnotic · transfixing · entrancing · enchanting · bewitching · captivating · arresting
fixation
Persistent mental attachment
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
- obsessionPersistent, intrusive preoccupation
- compulsionIrresistible urge to act
infatuation · enthrallment · absorption · immersion · consuming · haunting · possessing · gripping · dominating · captive
- morbid fascinationAttraction to grisly subjects
- dread fascinationAttraction mixed with horror
- childhood fascinationEarly-age intense interest
fascinated, fascinate, fascinating, fascination, fascinator, fascinations, fascinators, fascinatingly