What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mesmerize
Example
The audience was mesmerized by the magician's tricks. [mesmerized: past tense]
Example
She had the ability to mesmerize people with her voice. [mesmerize: verb]
captivate
Example
The children were captivated by the storybook's illustrations. [captivated: past tense]
Example
The singer captivated the audience with her beautiful voice. [captivate: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Captivate is more commonly used than mesmerize in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mesmerize and captivate?
Both mesmerize and captivate can be used in formal and informal contexts, but mesmerize may be considered more formal due to its less frequent usage.
