hypnotize

verb hyp·no·tize \ ˈhip-nə-ˌtīz \

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: hypnotize in a Sentence

Definition of hypnotize

hypnotized; hypnotizing

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

—

hypnotizability

play \ˌhip-nə-ˌtī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

—

hypnotizable

play \ˈhip-nə-ˌtī-zə-bəl\ adjective

See hypnotize defined for English-language learners

See hypnotize defined for kids

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 of hypnotize from the Web

More recently, Sirhan's lawyers have explored whether he was hypnotized to begin shooting his gun when given a certain cue, even hiring a renowned expert in hypnosis from Harvard to meet with Sirhan.

— the washington post, NOLA.com, "Who killed Bobby Kennedy? His son RFK Jr. doesn't believe it was Sirhan Sirhan," 27 May 2018
More recently, Sirhan’s lawyers have explored whether he was hypnotized to begin shooting his gun when given a certain cue, even hiring a renowned expert in hypnosis from Harvard to meet with Sirhan.

— author: tom jackman, Anchorage Daily News, "Who killed Bobby Kennedy? His son RFK Jr. doesn’t believe it was Sirhan Sirhan.," 26 May 2018
Teri said the private detective asked both her and Joe to be hypnotized.

— jsonline.com, "CHAPTER 5: THE GIRL IN THE CAFÉ," 27 Sep. 2017
Faul was known to hypnotize himself before starts, bite the heads off live parakeets and eat live toads, according to his Enquirer obituary.

— mark schmetzer, Cincinnati.com, "Glory Days: Goshen baseball loomed large, delivered a 1958 state championship," 10 May 2018
Astonishment Artist’ Mat LaVore will swallow needles, hypnotize people and even predict the future. $36 and $46.

— gege reed, The Courier-Journal, "Trying to find something to do this week? Try one of more than 50 events in Louisville," 15 Nov. 2017
It was punctuated by the loop-de-loop, give-and-go goal between Miller and Nikita Kucherov along the right half-wall, which might as well have hypnotized netminder Tuukka Rask to sleep before Miller pummeled the puck over his glove shoulder.

— alex prewitt, SI.com, "After a Dismal Series Start, Tampa Bay Quickly Regrouped to Reach Eastern Conference Final," 6 May 2018
The result is a crowd of people glued to the screens, at once hypnotized and acting out the A.D.H.D. of the digital age.

— andrea k. scott, The New Yorker, "Doug Aitken Mirrors Our Obsession with Mobile Technology," 4 May 2018
This was the mid-1990s, an auspicious time to be hypnotized by pinstripes.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "In Praise of Fair-Weather Fandom," 16 Apr. 2018

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.

First Known Use of hypnotize

1843

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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hypnotize Synonyms

Synonyms

arrest, bedazzle, catch up, enchant, enthrall (or enthral), fascinate, grip, mesmerize, spellbind;

Related Words

enrapture, entrance, thrill;

beguile, bewitch, charm;

absorb, engage, engross, involve;

HYPNOTIZE Defined for English Language Learners

hypnotize

verb

Definition of hypnotize for English Language Learners

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

HYPNOTIZE Defined for Kids

hypnotize

verb hyp·no·tize \ ˈhip-nə-ˌtīz \

Definition of hypnotize for Students

hypnotized; hypnotizing

: to affect by or as if by hypnotism

Her beautiful voice hypnotized the audience.

Medical Dictionary

hypnotize

transitive verb hyp·no·tize

variants: also British hypnotise play \-ˌtīz\

medical Definition of hypnotize

hypnotized also British hypnotised; hypnotizing also British hypnotising

1 : to induce hypnosis in

2 : to influence by or as if by suggestion

a voice that hypnotizes its hearers

—

hypnotizability

also British hypnotisability play \ˌhip-nə-ˌtī-zə-ˈbil-ət-ē\ noun, plural hypnotizabilities

—

hypnotizable

also British hypnotisable play \ˈhip-nə-ˌtī-zə-bəl\ adjective

Learn More about 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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hypnotize

Definition of hypnotize

hypnotizability

hypnotizable

Examples of hypnotize in a Sentence

Recent Examples of hypnotize from the Web

First Known Use of hypnotize

hypnotize Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

HYPNOTIZE Defined for English Language Learners

hypnotize

Definition of hypnotize for English Language Learners

HYPNOTIZE Defined for Kids

hypnotize

Definition of hypnotize for Students

Medical Dictionary

hypnotize

medical Definition of hypnotize

hypnotizability

hypnotizable

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