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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mesmerizing
Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026
The colorful fractal images produced inside each one are absolutely mesmerizing.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
The latest book by qntm, known as Sam Hughes at his day job as a software developer, fittingly feels like finding your way into a mesmerizing, bizarre, fascinating and maybe a little cringey corner of the Internet, one that is somehow more rewarding for arriving unexpected.
—Sarah Lewin Frasier, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
The Nicene Creed still had a rhapsodic, mesmerizing quality; the Lord’s Prayer would have been intelligible to anyone familiar with the English or Latin versions.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Watching the playoffs has still been completely mesmerizing.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Growing up in India, Shubhangi Seth had always imagined her dream wedding on the mesmerizing shores of Italy’s Lake Como, ringed by stunning alpine peaks and piercing blue water.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 May 2026
If Royals followers had their way, Jac Caglianone already would be an everyday player because of his mesmerizing potential.
—Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The sophisticated architecture includes a 41 mm white-gold case and bezel, a black ceramic mid-case and crown, a mesmerizing aventurine dial topped with three black opaline aluminium hour discs, and a matching black inner bezel with a second track and a larger 60-minute track.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 May 2026
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
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
Adjective
Plus, there’s something so mesmerizing about the size of the animals in the game.
—Keith Langston, Space.com, 31 May 2026
The colorful fractal images produced inside each one are absolutely mesmerizing.
—Sal Pizarro, Mercury News, 28 May 2026
The latest book by qntm, known as Sam Hughes at his day job as a software developer, fittingly feels like finding your way into a mesmerizing, bizarre, fascinating and maybe a little cringey corner of the Internet, one that is somehow more rewarding for arriving unexpected.
—Sarah Lewin Frasier, Scientific American, 27 May 2026
The Nicene Creed still had a rhapsodic, mesmerizing quality; the Lord’s Prayer would have been intelligible to anyone familiar with the English or Latin versions.
—Katie Thornton, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
Watching the playoffs has still been completely mesmerizing.
—Thomas Drance, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Growing up in India, Shubhangi Seth had always imagined her dream wedding on the mesmerizing shores of Italy’s Lake Como, ringed by stunning alpine peaks and piercing blue water.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 May 2026
If Royals followers had their way, Jac Caglianone already would be an everyday player because of his mesmerizing potential.
—Kansas City Star, 19 May 2026
The sophisticated architecture includes a 41 mm white-gold case and bezel, a black ceramic mid-case and crown, a mesmerizing aventurine dial topped with three black opaline aluminium hour discs, and a matching black inner bezel with a second track and a larger 60-minute track.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 May 2026
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing
Adjective
-
The haunting and hypnotic story follows stepbrothers Niall (Mitchell Robertson as a teen, Jamie Bell as an adult) and Ruben (Stuart Campell as a teen, Gadd as an adult) over 30 years, as their uneasy yet unshakeable bond becomes an increasingly toxic relationship.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
29 May 2026
-
Bay Area content creator Kane Parsons pushes back on conventional storytelling, and his hypnotic approach results in one of 2026’s most exhilarating debuts, a existential head trip that GoPros us into a human subconscious besieged by misshapen memories that trap and hold you hostage.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
28 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
-
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
-
And with his Tigers scuffling and the whole sport closely monitoring Skubal’s progress, this uncharted territory is equal parts riveting and consequential.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
26 May 2026
-
The conversation is intimate, deep and riveting.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
20 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
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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
-
The grand dame of Morocco is as fabulous and seductive as ever.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
There’s something both startling and seductive about such forthrightness.—
Jeremy Lybarger,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The patent leather adds alluring shine and the skinny heel is perfection.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
30 May 2026
-
An alluring take on the Bento box book cover trend.—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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