auto-suggestion

noun

au·​to-sug·​ges·​tion ˌȯ-tō-sə(g)-ˈjes-chən How to pronounce auto-suggestion (audio)
-ˈjesh-
variants or autosuggestion
: the influencing of one's own attitudes, behavior, or physical condition by mental processes other than conscious thought : self-hypnosis
"Auto-suggestion means you are literally talking to yourself," [Leonard] Rubenstein says. "Whatever you think or talk about goes into a phase of your mind, the subconscious area of your brain.Stasia Evasuk
Using autosuggestion, you consciously plant ideas in your own mind, which, in turn, believes them on an unconscious level.Jeffrey Staggs

Word History

Etymology

auto- + suggestion, probably after German Autosuggestion or French autosuggestion

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of auto-suggestion was in 1880

Dictionary Entries Near auto-suggestion

Cite this Entry

“Auto-suggestion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auto-suggestion. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

auto-suggestion

noun
au·​to-sug·​ges·​tion
variants or autosuggestion
: an influencing of one's own attitudes, behavior, or physical condition by mental processes other than conscious thought : self-hypnosis compare heterosuggestion
auto-suggest transitive verb
or autosuggest
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