hypnotize

[ hip-nuh-tahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, hyp·no·tized, hyp·no·tiz·ing.

1. to put in the hypnotic state.
2. to influence, control, or direct completely, as by personal charm, words, or domination:

   The speaker hypnotized the audience with his powerful personality.

3. to frighten or startle so that movement is impossible:

   The headlights hypnotized the deer and it just stood staring at the oncoming car.

verb (used without object)

, hyp·no·tized, hyp·no·tiz·ing.

1. to practice hypnosis; put or be able to put others into a hypnotic state.

hypnotize

/ ˈhɪpnəˌtaɪz /

verb

1. to induce hypnosis in (a person)
2. to charm or beguile; fascinate

Derived Forms

• ˈhypnoˌtizer, noun
• ˌhypnoˌtizaˈbility, noun
• ˈhypnoˌtizable, adjective
• ˌhypnotiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• hypno·tiza·ble adjective
• hypno·tiza·bili·ty noun
• half-hypno·tized adjective
• re·hypno·tize verb (used with object) rehypnotized rehypnotizing
• un·hypno·tiza·ble adjective
• un·hypno·tize verb (used with object) unhypnotized unhypnotizing

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypnotize¹

First recorded in 1843; hypnotism, -ize

Example Sentences

In an effort to try to get him to remember details about the voice of the perpetrator, the ex-husband was hypnotized, but it proved unsuccessful.

From The Daily Beast

Think of it as lush lazies that come unannounced to hypnotize you, mind and body, into a state of inactive indulgence.

From Ozy

Anyone watching this Mini scoot down the road could easily be hypnotized by the clever, spiral-like design etched onto the new wheels.

From Washington Blade

There’s just nothing quite as hypnotizing as molten rock—particularly when you’re nowhere near the show.

From Singularity Hub 

There is a meditativeness to it, a silence, Kierk and Carmen hypnotized by the pair leaning over their tasks Talmudically, as if watching two medieval illustrators at their desks.

From Nautilus

We'll go over thar in the mornin' early en I'll watch ye hypnotize her en Hulls, like ye did Logan.

From Project Gutenberg

Tells how experts hypnotize at a glance, make others obey their commands.

From Project Gutenberg

Moral: Don't let a pole hypnotize you with Fearthought—keep your Mind on the place to which you wish to go.

From Project Gutenberg

The pole seemed to hypnotize him, and from that day he couldn't keep his front wheel away from it.

From Project Gutenberg

On the other hand, the Paiute, from whom the ghost dance was derived, did not hypnotize.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• anesthetize
• captivate
• fascinate
• mesmerize
• stupefy