spellbinding

adjective

spell·​bind·​ing ˈspel-ˌbīn-diŋ How to pronounce spellbinding (audio)
Synonyms of spellbindingnext
: holding the attention as if by a spell
a spellbinding story
spellbindingly
ˈspel-ˌbīn-diŋ-lē How to pronounce spellbinding (audio)
adverb

Examples of spellbinding in a Sentence

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.
Part hymn, part lullaby, this soundscape courtesy of Brian Eno is a spellbinding palette of sound. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026 Still, this spellbinding performance will be remembered as one of the greatest in World Cup history. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026 As daylight fades, settle in for a spellbinding program of short films that wander through grief, memory, and the strange, beautiful terrain between presence and absence. — Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 12 May 2026 On her spellbinding fifth album, Aldous Harding steps closer than ever to the camera lens without coming into focus. — Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for spellbinding

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spellbinding was in 1827

Rhymes for spellbinding

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Browse Nearby Words

spellbinder
spellbinding
spellbound
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Cite this Entry

“Spellbinding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spellbinding. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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