Riveting
adj.energetic, thoughtfuleveryday
What it means
Holding attention so strongly that it is difficult to look or turn away.
Reach for it when praising sustained fascination rather than mere importance
The witness gave a riveting account of the mountain rescue.
Choose between these
6- everyday
curiosity remains active
not when Fascinating may be intellectual rather than dramatic.
- everyday
tension holds the audience
not when Gripping often suggests danger.
- warm
attention is quietly sustained
not when Absorbing is less intense.
- professional
interest or persuasive force is strong
not when Compelling may describe an argument.
- formal
complete concentration is the effect
not when Engrossing lacks riveting tension.
- literary
the audience seems enchanted
not when Spellbinding can overstate realism.
Said against
3- boring
- forgettable
- tedious
It naturally appears in
3- riveting story
The guide told a riveting story about the tunnel.
- absolutely riveting
Her unscripted explanation was absolutely riveting.
- riveting performance
A riveting performance held the hall in silence.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English adjective sense: engrossing or fascinating opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.