mesmerize
verb
Arnold Plotnick
Did you know?
Experts can’t agree on whether Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) was a quack or a genius, but all concede that the Swabian physician's name is the source of the word mesmerize. In his day, Mesmer was the toast of Paris, where he enjoyed the support of notables including Queen Marie Antoinette. He treated patients with therapeutic procedures (called, appropriately enough, mesmerism) involving what he claimed was a mysterious force termed animal magnetism. (Many believe that mesmerism was what we now call hypnotism). Accordingly, the verb mesmerize was first used to mean "to subject to mesmerism" before broadening to be synonymous with hypnotize, and later to mean "to amaze or captivate."
Synonyms
Examples of mesmerize in a Sentence
Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024
The sun emitted another powerful solar flare Tuesday nearly one week after separate flares set in motion a severe solar storm that disrupted some technology and produced some mesmerizing northern lights.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 15 May 2024
The crowd is mesmerized — and perplexed — by the song's eerily contemporary lyrics.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 May 2024
Photographers across the state have captured mesmerizing images showcasing the beauty of this celestial event.
—Kayla Cockrel, Detroit Free Press, 10 May 2024
There were also folksy numbers, jammed-out rockers and plenty of mesmerizing instrumental interludes.
—Jim Harrington, The Mercury News, 10 May 2024
Dolly Parton is known for many things: her iconic looks, her mesmerizing voice and her incredibly generous heart.
—Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024
People who own at least 1,000 Bitcoin are known as as Bitcoin Whales
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Ever since its inception in 2009, Bitcoin’s odyssey has mesmerized the public and attracted some colorful buyers.
—Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 6 May 2024
The mesmerizing black and white striped floors synonymous with the hotel were conceived by the French visionary, who's portfolio of clients includes everyone from late fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent to the Princess of Monaco.
—Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 6 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mesmerize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mesmerize
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesmerize. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
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mesmerize
transitive verb
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