as in hypnotic
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as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
discovered that the children were mesmerized by a television show
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Recent Examples of mesmerizing
Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Its rainbow rings are designed to be mesmerizing, capturing attention through movement rather than texture.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
The peaches are a mesmerizing sweet-and-spicy mixture that makes this Brie recipe absolutely irresistible.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
The most lasting albums were built on the tradition of musique concrète, leading to dense, mesmerizing collages.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The collection of art is mesmerizing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
All attack the material with full-throttle commitment — especially Juliette Lewis, in a mesmerizing Broadway debut.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s on top of them viewing a solar eclipse in space, and the many mesmerizing photos folks back on planet Earth have been treated to thanks to NASA.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
But this 3 still looks like the cooler play, absolutely mesmerizing in a vacuum.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Like many of my favorite live performances from decades before and since, these four are mesmerizing — albeit for very different reasons.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Authentic and proud cultural celebrations, luaus are uniquely entertaining and, at times, simply mesmerizing with Polynesian dancing and drumming as well as chants, songs and stories about ancient traditions, legends and epic Pacific Ocean migrations.
—Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
The haunting and moving scenes lensed inside this narrow alcove-like space were all really shot on-location and make for mesmerizing viewing.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Its misty mountains are mesmerizing and home to all kinds of plants and wildlife, including fireflies that synchronize for a few weeks each year.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Far fewer visitors make it to this stunning natural attraction, known for its impenetrably turquoise water, so mesmerizing that it was once thought to be bottomless.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his character’s transparency, Musella’s performance is mesmerizing.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
While the Giardini and nearby Arsenale area are the official sites of the Biennale, during the week leading up to the fair’s public opening, Venice transforms into a mesmerizing cultural carnival of events happening across the floating city.
—Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Its rainbow rings are designed to be mesmerizing, capturing attention through movement rather than texture.
—Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 6 May 2026
The peaches are a mesmerizing sweet-and-spicy mixture that makes this Brie recipe absolutely irresistible.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
The most lasting albums were built on the tradition of musique concrète, leading to dense, mesmerizing collages.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The collection of art is mesmerizing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
All attack the material with full-throttle commitment — especially Juliette Lewis, in a mesmerizing Broadway debut.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s on top of them viewing a solar eclipse in space, and the many mesmerizing photos folks back on planet Earth have been treated to thanks to NASA.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Nonetheless, Munden added his own visual flair, with color saturation, distorted close-ups to show the characters’ disorientation, and mesmerizing shots of nature writ large (raging fires, roiling ocean waves, torrential storms) and small (ants devouring a bug).
—Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
But this 3 still looks like the cooler play, absolutely mesmerizing in a vacuum.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Like many of my favorite live performances from decades before and since, these four are mesmerizing — albeit for very different reasons.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Authentic and proud cultural celebrations, luaus are uniquely entertaining and, at times, simply mesmerizing with Polynesian dancing and drumming as well as chants, songs and stories about ancient traditions, legends and epic Pacific Ocean migrations.
—Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
The haunting and moving scenes lensed inside this narrow alcove-like space were all really shot on-location and make for mesmerizing viewing.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Its misty mountains are mesmerizing and home to all kinds of plants and wildlife, including fireflies that synchronize for a few weeks each year.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Far fewer visitors make it to this stunning natural attraction, known for its impenetrably turquoise water, so mesmerizing that it was once thought to be bottomless.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his character’s transparency, Musella’s performance is mesmerizing.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing
Adjective
-
The race there begins somberly in the museum before runners bound up one flight of stairs into a hallway that leads into the main stairwell; from there, the steps settle into continuous, shallow right turns providing a repetitive, hypnotic cadence.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
-
Elevated rooms—some villas sit on stilts above the jungle floor, giving full treehouse vibes—offer total immersion within the thick, humid jungle, underscored by wild birds, hypnotic cicadas, and the swing of mischievous monkeys.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The enthralling ballistic orchestra of internal-combustion engines provide the dramatic soundtrack to a motoring scene nothing short of cinematic.—
Viju Mathew,
Robb Report,
11 May 2026
-
Watching the two teams toggle schematic approaches mid-series and adjust rosters in the offseasons to better matchup with one another has produced an enthralling chess match.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That studio bosses of today don’t care about enchanting audiences.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Equally enchanting this fashion month were Celine’s colorful leather pouches—particularly in cobalt blue, a trending hue—as seen on Ramya Giangola and Yumi Shin below.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Field of 64, established in 1985, worked fine, a manageable number that created just enough upsets to make the first round riveting.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
-
The series is riveting and disturbing, culminating with Bateman’s arrest and eventual conviction.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
An especially visually striking debut, Mosquitoes exists in a saturated hyperreality that is consummately engrossing, and announces the Bertani sisters as formidable portraitists of girlhood cast against the backdrop of an alternately beautiful and oppressive world.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Apparatus x Puiforcat Gabriel Hendifar’s lighting and furniture studio Apparatus, which is known for its seductive lighting and furniture, is getting ready to showcase its collaboration with the French cutlery to silverware house Puiforcat.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
12 May 2026
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Though in some sense this is a cautionary tale, the way that first Homer describes their attachment, and then Tennyson elaborates on their doomed, blissful apathy, is seductive in its own right.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
Fresh mushrooms and spinach make this dish even more alluring.—
Mary Shannon Wells,
Southern Living,
8 May 2026
-
This is a very alluring skill set in free agency.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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