Another word for interesting
The best other words for interesting are intriguing, notable, entertaining and fascinating.
- Most formal
- intriguing, compelling, thought-provoking
- Strongest
- extraordinary, fascinating, absorbing
- Casual
- gripping, fun
- Instead of “very interesting”
- fascinating, intriguing, engaging
Interesting /ˈɪntrəstɪŋ/ (adjective): arousing curiosity, attention, or engagement; worth noticing or thinking about. In simple words: making you want to know more; worth paying attention to. Below are 24 rated synonyms across 3 senses, plus 33 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
24 synonyms shown
Arousing curiosity · adjective
drawing interest or attention
Worth noticing · adjective
unusual, notable, or significant
Pleasantly engaging · adjective
interesting in an enjoyable, easy way
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- engaging — pleasantly holds attention
- intriguing — more puzzling and mentally engaging
- fascinating — stronger; hard to ignore
The dashed ring marks “interesting” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for interesting in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose the synonym that matches both strength and register: fascinating or compelling sound stronger than interesting, while notable or significant are better for formal writing. For casual praise, enjoyable, fun, or entertaining often feel more natural than elaborate alternatives.
Antonyms of interesting
- boring
- dull
- uninteresting
- tedious
- mundane
- uninspiring
- monotonous
- predictable
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| intriguing | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| fascinating | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| engaging | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| absorbing | 4/5 | neutral | academic, creative, casual |
| compelling | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| thought-provoking | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| gripping | 4/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| curious | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| notable | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| remarkable | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| striking | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| significant | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| noteworthy | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| unusual | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| extraordinary | 5/5 | formal | academic, business, creative, casual |
| outstanding | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| fun | 2/5 | slang | creative, casual |
| enjoyable | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| entertaining | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| captivating | 4/5 | formal | academic, creative, casual |
| charming | 3/5 | neutral | business, creative, casual |
| delightful | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| amusing | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| lighthearted | 2/5 | neutral | creative, casual |
Instead of “very interesting”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| very interesting | fascinating, intriguing, engaging |
| really interesting | quite, rather, especially |
| a bit interesting | somewhat, slightly, kind of |
More words related to interesting
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “interesting”.
- attractive
- appealing
- attention-grabbing
- eye-catching
- graceful
- fresh
- original
- novel
- uncommon
- special
- rare
- exciting
- stimulating
- instructive
- informative
- enlightening
- revealing
- alluring
- enticing
- provocative
- spellbinding
- compellingly
- worthwhile
- worth reading
- worth seeing
- worth watching
- good to know
- not to be missed
- of interest
- eye-opening
- intrigue-inducing
- thoughtful
- lively
Questions about synonyms for interesting
What is the most formal or academic synonym for interesting?
For academic writing, compelling, significant, noteworthy, or thought-provoking are often better choices, depending on whether you mean persuasive, important, or mentally stimulating. Intriguing is also formal, but it suggests curiosity or puzzle-like interest rather than importance.
What is a stronger synonym than interesting?
Fascinating, captivating, gripping, and compelling are stronger than interesting. They suggest that something holds attention more intensely or persuasively.
What is a milder synonym than interesting?
Curious, notable, or unusual can be milder, depending on the context; they often mean simply worth noticing rather than especially engaging. If you mean pleasant but not intense, enjoyable or entertaining are gentle alternatives.
What is a more formal word for interesting?
In formal writing, you can use words like noteworthy, significant, or thought-provoking, depending on the meaning. If you mean something that holds attention, engaging or compelling may fit better.
What can I say instead of very interesting?
You could say fascinating, intriguing, or engaging if you want a stronger replacement. If you mean it is worth noticing, notable or remarkable may work better.