mesmerism
noun
mes·mer·ism
ˈmez-mə-ˌri-zəm 
also ˈmes-
1
: hypnotic induction held to involve animal magnetism
broadly
: hypnotism
2
: hypnotic appeal
Examples of mesmerism in a Sentence
made a living at mesmerism and the selling of medical remedies of dubious value
Recent Examples on the Web
Barrymore’s turn in the lead role is itself a feat of silver-screen mesmerism, portraying Svengali as a cruel yet magnetic figure who wields his own charisma as an instrument of terrible power.
—
Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
But there’s a strange sort of mesmerism around it.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Barrymore’s turn in the lead role is itself a feat of silver-screen mesmerism, portraying Svengali as a cruel yet magnetic figure who wields his own charisma as an instrument of terrible power.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
The combination of cultural individualism, industrialization, and technological advance created a cultural moment in which audiences were open to and actively explored the idea of unseen forces (hey, if telegraph and photography worked, why not mesmerism, spiritualism, or palm-reading?).
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024
Learn about spiritualism, mesmerism and phrenology.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 29 Sep. 2024
The Society for Psychical Research was founded in the U.K. in 1882 to investigate possible paranormal activity, including mesmerism, thought transference, apparitions and even haunted houses.
—Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Richter then turned to the master of musical mesmerism for the movie’s soundtrack, to be performed live by a 14-player chamber ensemble of strings, winds and pairs of vibraphones and pianos.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
In the eighteenth century, Franz Mesmer introduced his concept of mesmerism, or animal magnetism, involving a universal vital fluid that passes in and out through our pores.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021
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Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
But there’s a strange sort of mesmerism around it.
—Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Barrymore’s turn in the lead role is itself a feat of silver-screen mesmerism, portraying Svengali as a cruel yet magnetic figure who wields his own charisma as an instrument of terrible power.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 16 Jan. 2025
The combination of cultural individualism, industrialization, and technological advance created a cultural moment in which audiences were open to and actively explored the idea of unseen forces (hey, if telegraph and photography worked, why not mesmerism, spiritualism, or palm-reading?).
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2024
Learn about spiritualism, mesmerism and phrenology.
—Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 29 Sep. 2024
The Society for Psychical Research was founded in the U.K. in 1882 to investigate possible paranormal activity, including mesmerism, thought transference, apparitions and even haunted houses.
—Naomi Oreskes, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Richter then turned to the master of musical mesmerism for the movie’s soundtrack, to be performed live by a 14-player chamber ensemble of strings, winds and pairs of vibraphones and pianos.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2023
In the eighteenth century, Franz Mesmer introduced his concept of mesmerism, or animal magnetism, involving a universal vital fluid that passes in and out through our pores.
—Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesmerism. Accessed 24 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mesmerism
noun
mes·mer·ism
ˈmez-mə-ˌriz-əm
also ˈmes-
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