as in hypnotism
the art or act of inducing in a person a sleeplike state during which he or she readily follows suggestions
with hypnosis there's some question as to just how involuntary the actions of the hypnotized person really are
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Recent Examples of hypnosis
One issue is that hypnosis has long been viewed as a form of entertainment, a stage show with a hypnotist and an audience, which can give viewers a sense that hypnosis is something done to you rather than a process that a person is led through.
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Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
In other words, an irresistible hypnosis for cinephiles.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
This can include diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, hypnosis and mindfulness.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The Radiance keeps its followers under a mass collective hypnosis, while the Pale King offers individuality, and manages to win the bugs over to his side.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypnosis
Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
In other words, an irresistible hypnosis for cinephiles.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
This can include diaphragmatic breathing, meditation, hypnosis and mindfulness.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025
The Radiance keeps its followers under a mass collective hypnosis, while the Pale King offers individuality, and manages to win the bugs over to his side.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hypnosis
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypnosis
hypnotism
Noun
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This hypnotism is especially conveyed through the film’s costumes.—
Eugenie Dalland,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2025
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Other topics of his lectures over the years that followed included animal magnetism, hypnotism, and the ether.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
12 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Hypnosis.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypnosis. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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