spellbinding
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective: 1. Captivating or fascinating to the point of holding one's complete attention: Describes something that attracts and holds interest as if by magic or a spell, making it difficult to look away or stop listening. 2. Mesmerizing or hypnotic: Having a quality that completely absorbs the mind or senses.
Usage and Examples
- As an adjective describing a performance or speaker:
- The magician gave a spellbinding performance that left the audience in awe.
- The politician delivered a spellbinding speech that captivated the entire nation.
- As an adjective describing a story, book, or narrative:
- She wrote a spellbinding novel that I couldn't put down.
- The documentary provided a spellbinding account of the deep-sea expedition.
- As an adjective describing a person's presence or charm:
- The actor has a spellbinding charisma on stage.
Advanced Usage
- "To hold someone spellbound": This is a common verbal phrase where "spellbinding" is implied. It means to captivate someone completely.
- The storyteller held the children spellbound with her tales of adventure. (Here, the effect is "spellbinding.")
Variants and Related Words
- Spellbind (verb): To hold the complete attention of someone as if by magic.
- The speaker's words spellbound the crowd.
- Spellbound (adjective): Describes the state of being completely fascinated or captivated.
- The spellbound audience didn't make a sound.
Synonyms
- Mesmerizing: Holding attention as if hypnotized.
- Captivating: Attracting and holding interest by being beautiful or interesting.
- Enthralling: Capturing interest as if in slavery or bondage.
- Gripping: Firmly holding the interest or attention.
- Riveting: Commanding complete attention.
Antonyms
- Boring: Not interesting; tedious.
- Dull: Lacking interest or excitement.
- Tiresome: Causing one to feel bored or annoyed.
- Uninteresting: Failing to attract attention or interest.
Adjective
- attracting and holding interest as if by a spell
- read the bedtime story in a hypnotic voice
- she had a warm mesmeric charm
- the sheer force of his presence was mesmerizing
- a spellbinding description of life in ancient Rome