spellbound 1 of 2

adjective

ˈspel-ˌbau̇nd How to pronounce spellbound (audio)
Definition of spellboundnext
as in charmed
being or appearing to be under a magic spell spellbound audiences never tire of this annual Christmas favorite

Synonyms & Similar Words

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spellbound

2 of 2

verb

past tense of spellbind
as in fascinated
to hold the attention of as if by a spell the tale about pirates and their buried treasure had completely spellbound the children

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 spellbound
Adjective
The town was spellbound over this horrific murders. — Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026 The result was a strangely spellbound life. — Merve Emre, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025 The waxing and waning of the substorm conditions fuel auroras all night, keeping us spellbound for hours. — Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 17 Nov. 2025 Set in Salem, Massachusetts, the third season will dive deeper into the mythology of witchcraft, introduce new ‘spellbound’ families and feature some of the historical happenings of Salem, the infamous town of witch trials and folklore. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spellbound
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spellbound
  1. charmed
  2. fascinated
  3. enchanted
  4. mesmerized
  5. magic
  6. magical
Adjective
  • For years, Coventry had lived a charmed life in the top flight, pulling off a few dramatic escapes either side of a glorious FA Cup success in 1987.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026
  • The actor discussed their charmed meet-cute on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2011.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 9 July 2026
Definition of charmed
Verb
  • Cronenberg is fascinated by a body that is taken apart and reimagined.
    — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • However, rather than the courageous grand duchesses who fought for the freedom of their people far away, the author was fascinated by the suffragette movement of the 1910s.
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of fascinated
Adjective
  • The Picture of Dorian Gray An enchanted portrait and a life of debauchery are at the core of this lavish literary horror by Oscar Wilde.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Six years later, Frozen 2 took the story beyond Arendelle, as Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff traveled into an enchanted forest to uncover the source of Elsa’s powers and learn more about their family’s past.
    — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of enchanted
Verb
  • Near the start of the year, Lindsay Clancy, the woman at the center of the criminal trial in Massachusetts that has mesmerized many chambers of social media, filed a civil action against eight health-care providers and facilities.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2026
  • He was mesmerized by the whirlpool, enthralled by the cyclops scene, dazzled at Circe’s transfigurative powers.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of mesmerized
Adjective
  • There’s no magic equation for solving the political division in this country.
    — Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In doing so, the Rays, per team calculations, reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to at least 12, pending later games.
    — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of magic
Adjective
  • Words like miraculous, inspirational, incredible, amazing and magical were just some of the adjectives heard at Friday’s event.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Caleb the Conjurer created several magical wins for the Bears, but that late game fortune also rarely carries over into the next season.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of magical

Browse Nearby Words

spellbinds
spellbound
spelled
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Cite this Entry

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

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