mesmerize
verb
Arnold Plotnick
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Experts can’t agree on whether Franz Anton Mesmer (1734-1815) was a quack or a genius, but all concede that the Swabian physician's name is the source of the word mesmerize. In his day, Mesmer was the toast of Paris, where he enjoyed the support of notables including Queen Marie Antoinette. He treated patients with therapeutic procedures (called, appropriately enough, mesmerism) involving what he claimed was a mysterious force termed animal magnetism. (Many believe that mesmerism was what we now call hypnotism). Accordingly, the verb mesmerize was first used to mean "to subject to mesmerism" before broadening to be synonymous with hypnotize, and later to mean "to amaze or captivate."
Synonyms
Examples of mesmerize in a Sentence
The Editors, National Review, 7 Jan. 2025
Vincent, with her beautifully aged face, is quietly mesmerizing; Ludivine Sagnier, as her hostile daughter, an absolute firebrand.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2024
In fact, even my older brother and sister at 12 and 13 were equally mesmerized.
—Lee Hartz Special To The Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 23 Dec. 2024
Cooler months allow visitors to explore at a quieter pace and revel in the area’s beautiful landscapes, from mesmerizing bald cypress swamps to serene waters for paddling.
—AFAR Media, 17 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Mesmerize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesmerize. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
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mesmerize
transitive verb
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