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hypnotize

verb
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hyp·​no·​tize | \ ˈhip-nə-ˌtīz How to pronounce hypnotize (audio) \
hypnotized; hypnotizing

Definition of hypnotize

transitive verb

1 : to induce hypnosis in
2 : to dazzle or overcome by or as if by suggestion a voice that hypnotizes its hearers drivers hypnotized by speed
Other Words from hypnotize Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about hypnotize

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Other Words from hypnotize

hypnotizability \ ˌhip-​nə-​ˌtī-​zə-​ˈbi-​lə-​tē How to pronounce hypnotizability (audio) \ noun
hypnotizable \ ˈhip-​nə-​ˌtī-​zə-​bəl How to pronounce hypnotizable (audio) \ adjective

Examples of hypnotize in a Sentence

The therapist hypnotized him and asked him questions about his traumatic experiences in the war. He can hypnotize people with his stare.
Recent Examples on the Web Donna knows something Betty doesn’t, though: There’s now a new code, one that can hypnotize Betty on a dime. — Kaitlin Reilly, refinery29.com, "What Really Happened The Night Jughead Died," 12 Feb. 2020 Have you ever been hypnotized by videos on Instagram of people drawing letters in slow motion? — Popular Science, "Get started in hand-lettering with these elegant calligraphy tools," 4 Feb. 2020 According to Simkins, just one of those hypnotizing posts can take up to eight hours of persistent and strategic gluing. — Nicola Dall'asen, Allure, "How Ella Frank Simkins Creates Hauntingly Pretty Hand Art With Nothing but Crystals," 21 Jan. 2020 Taye Diggs hosts this game show in which contestants perform tasks after being hypnotized. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, "The week in TV: Back to ‘90210,’ Woodstock past and present, and two-sentence horror stories," 4 Aug. 2019 When the town refuses to pay him for his services, the piper plays another tune to hypnotize the children and lead them out of the town, never to be seen again. — Devi Lockwood, New York Times, "Overlooked No More: Lotte Reiniger, Animator Who Created Magic With Scissors and Paper," 18 Oct. 2019 The Fellowship believed that humans spend their lives as if hypnotized, lulled into a trance by mental, physical, and emotional habits; in contrast, members of the Fellowship sought at all moments to awaken. — Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, "How Natural Wine Became a Symbol of Virtuous Consumption," 18 Nov. 2019 To escape punishment, the boys hypnotize the principal, who turns into a very peculiar kind of superhero. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Movies for kids to stream at home during the CPS strike," 17 Oct. 2019 Hypno-Henry, the Cake Batter Monster: A doughnut filled with cake batter, dipped in yellow icing and orange sanding sugar with a mesmerizing icing swirl, Hypno-Henry is known for hypnotizing customers into wanting more doughnuts. — Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, "Krispy Kreme’s New Halloween Doughnuts Look Scary Delicious," 7 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hypnotize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of hypnotize

1843, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for hypnotize

Time Traveler

The first known use of hypnotize was in 1843

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Statistics for hypnotize

Last Updated

17 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Hypnotize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypnotize. Accessed 24 Feb. 2020.

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More Definitions for hypnotize

hypnotize

verb
How to pronounce hypnotize (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of hypnotize

: to put (a person) into a state of hypnosis
: to hold the attention of (someone) : to attract (someone) in a powerful or mysterious way

See the full definition for hypnotize in the English Language Learners Dictionary

hypnotize

verb
hyp·​no·​tize | \ ˈhip-nə-ˌtīz How to pronounce hypnotize (audio) \
hypnotized; hypnotizing

Kids Definition of hypnotize

: to affect by or as if by hypnotism Her beautiful voice hypnotized the audience.

hypnotize

transitive verb
hyp·​no·​tize
variants: also British hypnotise \ -​ˌtīz How to pronounce hypnotise (audio) \
hypnotized also British hypnotised; hypnotizing also British hypnotising

Medical Definition of hypnotize

1 : to induce hypnosis in
2 : to influence by or as if by suggestion a voice that hypnotizes its hearers

Other Words from hypnotize

hypnotizability also British hypnotisability \ ˌhip-​nə-​ˌtī-​zə-​ˈbil-​ət-​ē How to pronounce hypnotisability (audio) \ noun, plural hypnotizabilities
hypnotizable also British hypnotisable \ ˈhip-​nə-​ˌtī-​zə-​bəl How to pronounce hypnotisable (audio) \ adjective

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More from Merriam-Webster on hypnotize

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for hypnotize

Spanish Central: Translation of hypnotize

Nglish: Translation of hypnotize for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of hypnotize for Arabic Speakers

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