fascinating

1 of 2

adjective

fas·​ci·​nat·​ing ˈfa-sə-ˌnā-tiŋ How to pronounce fascinating (audio)
ˈfas-ˌnā-tiŋ
Synonyms of fascinating
: extremely interesting or charming : captivating
a fascinating documentary
gave a fascinating account of the expedition

fascinating

2 of 2

present participle of fascinate

Examples of fascinating in a Sentence

Adjective the fascinating cities and peoples of central Asia have been intriguing travelers at least since the time of Marco Polo the fascinating—but dubious—legend that Pocahontas rescued John Smith from certain death
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
From telenovelas to Hollywood superstardom, Salma Hayek’s trajectory has been a fascinating one. Radhika Seth, Vogue, 2 Sep. 2026 Rather than laying out fascinating alternate paths and hints of what might have been, Timeless isn’t even interesting as a collection of outtakes. Michaelangelo Matos, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026 These new findings are a fascinating reminder that species can have little in common and still be connected by convergent evolution. New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 Preventive medical checkups in Seoul made up less than 5% of the 2024 total, which makes a place like Magok a fascinating outlier. Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fascinating

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see fascinate

First Known Use

Adjective

1618, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of fascinating was in 1618

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fascinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fascinating. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

fascinating

adjective
fas·​ci·​nat·​ing
ˈfas-ə-ˌnāt-iŋ
: extremely interesting or charming
fascinatingly adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster