riveting 1 of 2

adjective

ˈri-və-tiŋ How to pronounce riveting (audio)
Definition of rivetingnext
as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest a riveting explanation of light waves that fascinated the class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

riveting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rivet
as in focusing
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of riveting
Adjective
This month brings riveting novels about dogs, stars (the Hollywood kind), small towns and characters with bigger woes than just sweat stains. — Colin Dwyer, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026 Viola Davis has transformed into many riveting characters throughout the years. — Adrianne Reece, InStyle, 31 July 2026
Verb
Pomona native and Cal Poly grad who flew Navy F-18s successfully launches as pilot of NASA’s riveting Artemis II mission around the moon, the first such voyage since the Apollo program in 1972. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 5 Apr. 2026 Welcome to Screen Gab, the newsletter for everyone wondering how to make each hour in their workday riveting for television viewers. — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for riveting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveting
  1. interesting
  2. focusing
  3. intriguing
  4. concentrating
  5. fascinating
  6. engaging
  7. absorbing
Adjective
  • Coach John Harbaugh made the interesting decision Friday night to sit Dart and a number of other starters for a second straight preseason game.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Cartoonists on Dolly Parton's life and legacy Join 350,000+ subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of interesting
Verb
  • The inaugural edition took place in India, and selected a crop of businesses focusing on India’s priority health domains like oncology, chronic disease management and preventive care.
    — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Secure-storage laws cut through traditional policy debates by focusing on a straightforward, preventative standard.
    — Brittany Berlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of focusing
Adjective
  • Although not quite as polished on the racial politics front, Lanterns’s third episode is no less intriguing, as an hour of television dedicated not only to answering pressing questions but fleshing out its lead character in disturbing ways.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Belton is an intriguing player, but Cisco should also see action in certain packages.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of intriguing
Verb
  • According to Grande Cosmetics, apply GrandeBROW once daily on a clean, dry brow, concentrating on sparse areas.
    — Iman Balagam, Vogue, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The report said only 14 percent expect greater use of AI shopping assistants to be the biggest behavioral change this season, and most are still concentrating their attention on shipping costs, discounts and operational execution.
    — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of concentrating
Adjective
  • These new findings are a fascinating reminder that species can have little in common and still be connected by convergent evolution.
    — New Atlas, 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
Definition of fascinating
Adjective
  • The 2010s produced far more watchable, engaging Test cricket than the run-laden 2000s, thanks in no small part to a shift in pitch preparation.
    — Ben Jones Aug. 26, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Qualley, who keeps getting better with each role, makes for an engaging companion for Hig, both not ready to give up on life.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of engaging
Adjective
  • From that point on, Kusama’s absorbing and fresh art, once charged by avant-garde energies, became more or less a meaning-free expression of market principles, an exercise in branding.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Both are all-absorbing; both are forms of movement that transform one’s mind.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of absorbing

Browse Nearby Words

riveted
riveting
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Cite this Entry

“Riveting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveting. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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