hypnotic

1 of 2

adjective

hyp·​not·​ic hip-ˈnä-tik 

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

hip-ˈnä-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hypnotic

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sleep-inducing agent : soporific

2

: one that is or can be hypnotized

Synonyms

Adjective

• drowsy
• narcotic
• opiate
• sleepy
• slumberous
• slumbrous
• somniferous
• somnolent
• soporific

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 material may not be as absorbing as that of the original, but the editing still gives it a pace and style that could be called rigorously hypnotic. —Mike Hale, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

The choreography by Julia Cheng doesn’t aim to dazzle, but the fluidity is hypnotic nonetheless. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2024

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

Kids Definition

hypnotic

1 of 2 adjective

hyp·​not·​ic hip-ˈnät-ik 

1

: tending to cause sleep

2

: of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism

hypnotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

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 

1

: tending to produce sleep : soporific

2

: of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism

hypnotically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

hypnotic

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sleep-inducing agent : soporific

2

: one that is or can be hypnotized