hypnotic 1 of 2

adjective

hip-ˈnä-tik How to pronounce hypnotic (audio)
Definition of hypnoticnext
as in soothing
tending to cause sleep her eyes soon grew heavy from the hypnotic rhythm of the train's wheels

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

hypnotic

2 of 2

noun

as in sedative

Related Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hypnotic
Adjective
Her hypnotic, unconventional works propelled her from near-obscurity to a place in the world’s most prominent museums. — Juno Carmel, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 View gallery - 4 images Watching skilled excavator operators work is almost hypnotic. — New Atlas, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
However, there was no increase in the number of prescriptions for anti-psychotics or hypnotics. — Jen Christensen, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Clues point Rourke toward Diana Cruz (Alice Braga), a storefront psychic who fills the detective in on the phenomenon of hypnotics. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023 See All Example Sentences for hypnotic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hypnotic
  1. soothing
  2. sedative
  3. hypnotizing
  4. tranquilizer
  5. narcotic
  6. soporific
  7. opiate
  8. drowsy
Adjective
  • The formula packs green tea extract for soothing and antioxidant-rich rosehip oil for skin brightening.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Wind Features Kinetic wind features also create a focal point, and their rhythmic motion in the wind can be as soothing as that of a water feature.
    — Nadia Hassani, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of soothing
Noun
  • Monroe reportedly ingested a lethal dose of Nembutal, an anxiety medication, as well as a large dose of chloral hydrate, a drug used as a sedative.
    — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Native to the Pacific Islands, its active compounds (kavalactones) act directly on the brain's GABA receptors much like a mild sedative and are typically used for acute anxiety or insomnia.
    — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of sedative
Adjective
  • This artist layers glossy swirls over a white cat-eye base for a hypnotizing final result.
    — Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • With this in mind, here are 25 stop-motion movies that are hypnotizing to watch.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 1 July 2026
Definition of hypnotizing
Noun
  • My mother was addicted to a tranquilizer called sodium pentothal.
    — Gloria Steinem, The Atlantic, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Other monkeys, including some of the larger and more dominant macaques, had to be subdued with tranquilizer darts before they could be captured.
    — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
Definition of tranquilizer
Adjective
  • The only comparable case in the last three years involved Los Nogales, a restaurant in Meeker, which allegedly dispensed antibiotics and non-narcotic cough medicines.
    — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The reform also significantly expanded access to medical cannabis by removing it from the country's list of narcotic drugs, simplifying medical cannabis prescribing.
    — Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of narcotic
Adjective
  • When things are going smoothly, the bedtime routine calls to us from the end of each day like a soporific siren song.
    — Miranda Rake, Parents, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The calm atmosphere occasionally borders on soporific.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of soporific
Adjective
  • People with thyroid disease, kidney, liver or heart problems, or those taking NSAIDs, opiate pain medications or certain antidepressants can actually take in too much water.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Because poppy seeds come from the same plant species used to produce opiates, consuming large amounts can sometimes lead to detectable levels of opiate compounds in urine tests.
    — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 19 July 2026
Definition of opiate
Adjective
  • Allergy drugs can ease those symptoms and make people drowsy, potentially offering relief from insomnia.
    — Kara Smythe, EverydayHealth.com, 15 May 2026
  • Fleets that deployed the company's AI dash cams, which detect drowsy or distracted driving, saw a 73% reduction in accidents after 30 months, according to company data from more than 2,600 customers.
    — TIME Contributors, Time, 29 Apr. 2026
Definition of drowsy

Browse Nearby Words

hypnosis
hypnotic
hypnotics
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Cite this Entry

“Hypnotic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hypnotic. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on hypnotic

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hypnotic

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