as in interesting
holding the attention or provoking interest
an engrossing lecture on Native American culture before the arrival of Europeans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in intriguing
to hold the attention of
a mystery story that will engross readers all the way to the surprise ending
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of engrossing
Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
The result is an engrossing work of science fiction, particularly captivating for its apparent realism.
—Big Think, 19 Feb. 2026
Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
This sandwich is engrossing, emphatically flavorful and satisfyingly hearty.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for engrossing
Adjective
Ahead of a global tour in support of Oneohtrix’s engrossing eleventh studio album, Tranquilizer, Lopatin ran down a selection songs that have defined and shaped him over the last four decades, from Winthrop to today.
—Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 13 Mar. 2026
The result is an engrossing work of science fiction, particularly captivating for its apparent realism.
—Big Think, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
From my time with the game so far, Marathon already packs lots of engrossing lore and little stories as part of its codex entries, audio logs, dialogue sequences, and surprising cutscenes.
—Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2026
This sandwich is engrossing, emphatically flavorful and satisfyingly hearty.
—Cesar Hernandez, San Francisco Chronicle, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for engrossing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for engrossing
Adjective
-
If Houston wins that one, things start to get really interesting for a 3-0 comeback.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Orlando would scurry to get back in the game and thanks to some lucky breaks in the second half, the Storm were able to make things interesting.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And while the company presented more data on that drug Tuesday, showing promising first-line and combination data on daraxonrasib, scientists also showed in another session intriguing preclinical data on a completely new compound that may represent what comes after the current lineup.—
Angus Chen,
STAT,
21 Apr. 2026
-
There’s familiarity there, but there’s also intriguing talent with Thompson.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Mercury in your 5th House of Creativity keeps your personal expression active and engaging.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The new guard of creators and brand strategists who have built communities from the ground up know their method is much more effective and engaging than a top-down model.—
Caitlin White,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Operator errors, including violations of safety protocols and the removal of most absorbing rods, also played a role.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The tablets are quick-absorbing and free from soy, gluten, dairy, fish and yeast.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Because this movie relied on really immersing yourself into this environment.—
Emily Zemler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This is the brand’s first adult-only, all-inclusive resort in the world with a biophilic design geared toward immersing guests in the natural surroundings.—
Carole Dixon,
HollywoodReporter,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Engrossing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/engrossing. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
