SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
riveting
adjective
Holding attention very strongly.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Holding attention
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topRiveting implies sustained attention. Arresting can describe the initial impact that catches attention without guaranteeing lasting interest.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See riveting in use
The witness's riveting account kept the audience silent.
For a neighborhood audio festival, Asha recorded a captivating story about two strangers who repeatedly received each other's letters. The unexpected connection could enthrall listeners because each new envelope changed their understanding of the characters. Her most riveting scene was quiet: one stranger finally recognized the handwriting and stopped before opening the letter.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license