What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mesmerized
Example
The audience was mesmerized by the magician's performance. [mesmerized: adjective]
Example
She was mesmerized by the beauty of the sunset. [mesmerized: verb]
captivate
Example
The book captivated me from the first page. [captivated: verb]
Example
The children were captivated by the clown's performance. [captivated: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Captivate is more commonly used than mesmerized in everyday language. Captivate is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while mesmerized is less common and has a more specific connotation.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mesmerized and captivate?
Both mesmerized and captivate are formal words, but captivate is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.