hypnotic

1 of 2

adjective

hyp·​not·​ic hip-ˈnä-tik How to pronounce hypnotic (audio)
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
hypnotically adverb

hypnotic

2 of 2

noun

1
: a sleep-inducing agent : soporific
2
: one that is or can be hypnotized

Examples of hypnotic in a Sentence

Adjective The psychologist put her into a hypnotic state. Riding in a car often has a hypnotic effect on babies. the steady, hypnotic rhythm of the train
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The kinesis of the river, a question of the color and the motion of the water flow, is always hypnotic. Joseph O’Neill, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Courtesy of cinematographer Oscar Ignacio Jiménez, its tight close-ups of locked eyes, smiling mouths, naked stretch marks and feet wrapped around lovers’ waists combine to create a mode of hypnotic cinematic intimacy, which the film frequently enters for lengthy stretches. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 9 Mar. 2024 Here is a selection for March babies and jewelry fans who want to feel the tranquility of this hypnotic gem. Beth Bernstein, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 Rakim’s rapping on Paid in Full set the precedent for other MCs to follow, with his lyrical dexterity and hypnotic cadence. Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 27 Feb. 2024 Tool took Phoenix fans on 'a little journey' of hypnotic intensity on 'Fear Inoculum' tour Where will ‘The Eras Tour’ be streaming? Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 23 Jan. 2024 But Hunt-Ehrlich complicates and prevaricates on that impulse in increasingly provocative and hypnotic ways, delivering a woozily metatextual essay that lives inside the mystery of Césaire’s tiny but influential corpus of work, rather than trying to solve it. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 31 Jan. 2024 Meanwhile, a characteristically hypnotic Idris Elba is the baddest man in the West, with a gang including the equally formidable likes of Regina King and LaKeith Stanfield. Dennis Perkins, EW.com, 17 Jan. 2024 Observing Ed Harris’ hypnotic energy as Christof, the architect of Truman’s world, was a masterclass in acting for Giamatti, who aspired to emulate the performer throughout his career. Clayton Davis, Variety, 16 Feb. 2024
Noun
However, there was no increase in the number of prescriptions for anti-psychotics or hypnotics. Jen Christensen, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Clues point Rourke toward Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), a storefront psychic who fills the detective in on the phenomenon of hypnotics. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023 Unlike telepaths, who can read minds, hypnotics have the power to control them, reshaping a person’s reality and redirecting their impulses. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023 The festival, which started in 1976, is bringing wacky comedy shows, unique music performances, daring jousts, acrobatics, hypnotics and even big cats to 10 stages around the 30-acre festival grounds, located 30 minutes south of Denver in Larkspur. Kaitlyn Bancroft, The Know, 18 June 2019 There was no consensus among professionals in Cleveland over whether the availability of methamphetamine or the drugs known as sedative-hypnotics, such as Xanax, Klonopin or Ativan, has increased. Laura Hancock, cleveland.com, 7 July 2017 There are signs warning visitors not to use the spa while under the influence of hypnotics. Richard Morgan, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'hypnotic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1681, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypnotic was in 1625

Dictionary Entries Near hypnotic

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

hypnotic

1 of 2 adjective
hyp·​not·​ic hip-ˈnät-ik How to pronounce hypnotic (audio)
1
: tending to cause sleep
2
: of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism
hypnotically adverb

hypnotic

2 of 2 noun
: an agent (as a drug) that causes or tends to cause sleep

Medical Definition

hypnotic

1 of 2 adjective
hyp·​not·​ic hip-ˈnät-ik How to pronounce hypnotic (audio)
1
: tending to produce sleep : soporific
2
: of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism
hypnotically adverb

hypnotic

2 of 2 noun
1
: a sleep-inducing agent : soporific
2
: one that is or can be hypnotized

More from Merriam-Webster on hypnotic

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