mesmerize

verb

mes·​mer·​ize ˈmez-mə-ˌrīz 

 also  ˈmes-

mesmerized; mesmerizing

transitive verb

1

: to subject to mesmerism

also : hypnotize

2

: spellbind

I found myself mesmerized by the grandiosity of it all

—Arnold Plotnick

The crowd was mesmerized by the acrobats.

mesmerizer noun

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

• fascinate
• enchant

Examples of mesmerize in a Sentence

discovered that the children were mesmerized by a television show

Recent Examples on the Web

As a child, she was mesmerized by the paint jobs, hydraulics and the curves of the cars. —Nicole Nixon, Sacbee.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Even the youngest fortune tellers will be mesmerized by its sweet and tangy flavors. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2025

Gibbs announced his commitment to Penn State later that week and has been mesmerized by all the videos of the crowds at Beaver Stadium he has since been sent on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. —Grace Raynor, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025

Her travel adventures, and those who got to share them with her, are part of what make up the legend of Elizabeth Taylor that continues to mesmerize fans to this day. —Angela Andaloro, People.com, 14 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for mesmerize

• advertise
• aggrandize
• agonize
• alibis
• alkalies
• alkalis
• amortize
• amplifies
• analyse
• analyze
• anywise
• authorize

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

mesmerize

verb

mes·​mer·​ize ˈmez-mə-ˌrīz 

also

ˈmes- 

mesmerized; mesmerizing

1

: hypnotize

2

: fascinate sense 1, spellbind

Medical Definition

mesmerize

transitive verb

mes·​mer·​ize

variants or British mesmerise

-mə-ˌrīz 

mesmerized or British mesmerised; mesmerizing or British mesmerising

: to subject to mesmerism

also : hypnotize

mesmerization noun

or British mesmerisation

ˌmez-mə-ri-ˈzā-shən