What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
riveting
Example
The book was so riveting that I stayed up all night to finish it. [riveting: adjective]
Example
The audience was riveted to their seats during the thrilling performance. [riveted: verb]
fascinating
Example
The museum exhibit was fascinating, with its rare artifacts and historical information. [fascinating: adjective]
Example
I find the study of human behavior to be absolutely fascinating. [fascinating: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fascinating is more commonly used than riveting in everyday language. Fascinating is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while riveting is less common and may be considered more informal.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between riveting and fascinating?
While fascinating can be used in both formal and informal contexts, riveting is typically associated with a more informal or colloquial tone.
