hypnotic

¹hyp·not·ic

adjective \hip-ˈnä-tik\

Definition of HYPNOTIC

1

: tending to produce sleep : soporific

2

a : of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism

b : readily holding the attention <a hypnotic personality> <a simple hypnotic beat>

— hyp·not·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of HYPNOTIC

1. The psychologist put her into a hypnotic state.
2. Riding in a car often has a hypnotic effect on babies.
3. the steady, hypnotic rhythm of the train

Origin of HYPNOTIC

French or Late Latin; French hypnotique, from Late Latin hypnoticus, from Greek hypnōtikos, from hypnoun to put to sleep, from hypnos

First Known Use: 1625

Related to HYPNOTIC

Synonyms

drowsy, narcotic, opiate, sleepy, slumberous (or slumbrous), somniferous, somnolent, soporific

Antonyms

stimulant

Related Words

depressant, relaxant, sedative, tranquilizing (also tranquillizing); calming, comforting, lulling, pacifying, quieting, relaxing, restful, settling, soothing; analgesic, anesthetic, anesthetizing, benumbing, deadening, dulling, numbing; hypnotizing, mesmerizing, stupefying

Near Antonyms

arousing, awakening, energizing, invigorating, rousing, stimulating, wakening, waking; bracing, refreshing, restorative, reviving, stimulative, stimulatory

Rhymes with HYPNOTIC

aquatic, biotic, chaotic, cirrhotic, demotic, despotic, ergotic, erotic, exotic, kyphotic, leprotic, lordotic, meiotic, mitotic, narcotic, necrotic, neurotic, Nilotic, osmotic, psychotic, quixotic, robotic, sclerotic, thrombotic, zygotic

²hypnotic

noun

Definition of HYPNOTIC

1

: a sleep-inducing agent : soporific

2

: one that is or can be hypnotized

First Known Use of HYPNOTIC

1681

Rhymes with HYPNOTIC

aquatic, erotic, exotic, narcotic, neurotic, psychotic, sclerotic