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
Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 18 June 2026
His crowning glory isn’t just the historic win or being named Finals MVP after his mesmerizing 45-point performance in Game 5.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
Following his Oscar-winning performance in The French Connection and his unforgettable work in The Conversation, Gene Hackman added yet another mesmerizing crime drama to his filmography with this neo-noir classic.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Anchored by a mesmerizing lead performance from Cemre Paksoy, the film blends scam-call paranoia, erotic fixation, and existential dread into a vision that’s difficult to shake even in a trailer that’s barely two minutes long.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 June 2026
The planetary trio have been locked in a mesmerizing slow dance in the western sunset sky over the past few weeks, forming a spectacular line-up before breaking ranks in dramatic fashion, as Venus beat a slow but inexorable path towards Jupiter.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 June 2026
On a quiet stretch of Santa Rosa Island, between Pensacola and Destin, lies Navarre Beach, a quiet coastal town with mesmerizing emerald-green waters, frequent dolphin sightings, and powdery white-sand beaches.
—Daria Bachmann, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
And Towns, whose movements were mesmerizing, was the fulcrum.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
The colorful fractal images produced inside each one are absolutely mesmerizing.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Laura Ness, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is mesmerizing in space, and dynamic playmakers adorn every level of this Seahawks roster.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 May 2026
It’s been mesmerizing to watch Schoenbrun not only come out in real time over their last two films, but now come so much into their own powers as a storyteller.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
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
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
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
Adjective
The design is made even more mesmerizing with 3D dewdrops.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 18 June 2026
His crowning glory isn’t just the historic win or being named Finals MVP after his mesmerizing 45-point performance in Game 5.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
Following his Oscar-winning performance in The French Connection and his unforgettable work in The Conversation, Gene Hackman added yet another mesmerizing crime drama to his filmography with this neo-noir classic.
—Eric Farwell, Entertainment Weekly, 12 June 2026
Anchored by a mesmerizing lead performance from Cemre Paksoy, the film blends scam-call paranoia, erotic fixation, and existential dread into a vision that’s difficult to shake even in a trailer that’s barely two minutes long.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 June 2026
The planetary trio have been locked in a mesmerizing slow dance in the western sunset sky over the past few weeks, forming a spectacular line-up before breaking ranks in dramatic fashion, as Venus beat a slow but inexorable path towards Jupiter.
—Anthony Wood, Space.com, 10 June 2026
On a quiet stretch of Santa Rosa Island, between Pensacola and Destin, lies Navarre Beach, a quiet coastal town with mesmerizing emerald-green waters, frequent dolphin sightings, and powdery white-sand beaches.
—Daria Bachmann, Travel + Leisure, 8 June 2026
And Towns, whose movements were mesmerizing, was the fulcrum.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 7 June 2026
The colorful fractal images produced inside each one are absolutely mesmerizing.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
Verb
Step in and you’re transported to the seacoast of Italy by the cheerful Italian soundtrack, the mesmerizing murals and the vibrant yet relaxing setting.
—Laura Ness, Mercury News, 23 June 2026
Jaxon Smith-Njigba is mesmerizing in space, and dynamic playmakers adorn every level of this Seahawks roster.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 16 May 2026
It’s been mesmerizing to watch Schoenbrun not only come out in real time over their last two films, but now come so much into their own powers as a storyteller.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing
Adjective
-
There’s something hypnotic and ritualistic in it, something that can become almost shamanic, almost therapeutic — like a sound bath.—
Alma Rota,
Rolling Stone,
17 June 2026
-
Instrumental rock music of the kind Horse Lords make—hypnotic, hyper-focused, complex—usually carries a whiff of manifesto, offering a map toward transcendence of some political, metaphysical, or pick-your-variety kind.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
16 June 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
-
In fairness, there were long stretches of South Africa-Czech Republic that were not entirely enthralling.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
-
Hoskins rose to prominence with his enthralling performance as Harold, a charismatic emblem of British hubris.—
Eric Farwell,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The rookie showman is proving his mettle as part of the Caballero Circus, a five-generation family of performers, by enchanting audiences with his charismatic stage presence and sharp coordination.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
-
That studio bosses of today don’t care about enchanting audiences.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But anger is only an occasionally riveting spice in this show, not the dominant emotion.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
19 June 2026
-
All of this, mind you, is far more riveting than the car chase scenes in Disclosure Day.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
In the span of just two weeks, Wembanyama has gone from an engrossing basketball phenomenon to, as Jason Whitlock called him, an overprotected punk.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
By probing his triple role as author, anthropologist and cult leader, the book asks why Americans hunger for seductive spiritual hoaxes.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
-
The most seductive is a spectacular piece called the Untamed, which physically embodies the jeweler’s sensibilities in an 18-karat-white-gold strand of ivy with diamond leaves interspersed with tiny rock-crystal dew droplets.—
Jill Newman,
Robb Report,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
The restaurant Merroir is so alluring that some people spend a whole day there, alternating between oysters, beers, and more oysters.—
Simon Davidson,
Travel + Leisure,
19 June 2026
-
Keeping Away Pests The alluring smell of a fresh cup of joe does not have the same effect on insects and pests like snails and slugs.—
Joey Skladany,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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