mesmerizing 1 of 2

adjective

as in hypnotic

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mesmerizing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mesmerize
as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell discovered that the children were mesmerized by a television show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mesmerizing
Adjective
Towards the end there’s a dreamlike montage of uncertain efficacy, though stunning images of Toni and young Adela on a bed covered in vines and grasses are so mesmerizing that the eye wants to linger further. — Jay Weissberg, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 The effect is mesmerizing, casting soft distortions across the ceiling and along the wet stone walls. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026 From glossy chrome finishes and mesmerizing cat-eye effects to playful 3D nail art and modern French tips, there’s an olive manicure for every aesthetic. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 9 Aug. 2026 Just offshore from Ambergris Caye, Belize’s largest island, the Caribbean Sea takes on a mesmerizing, almost marbled quality. — Sarah Bruning, Travel + Leisure, 6 Aug. 2026 The flowerheads of tall sedums like ‘Autumn Joy’ do a mesmerizing dance, deepening from pink to russet. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Aug. 2026 One of the most prolific and mesmerizing duos in sports history, really, offered an encouraging early reprisal. — Vahe Gregorian july 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026 Slight, lightning quick and with mesmerizing ballhanding, Iverson attacked defenses on the perimeter and in the paint with equal parts of fearlessness and relentlessness, guile and gumption. — Rob Peterson, New York Times, 26 July 2026 In a flyby maneuver earlier this year, Psyche used the planet’s gravity to reshape its trajectory, all while capturing images that NASA has stitched into a mesmerizing time-lapse video. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 21 July 2026
Verb
But certain guessers are surprisingly astute in ways that are mesmerizing to watch and occasionally informative. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 July 2026 The other actor whose presence deeply impacted the production, Nolan reports, is Samantha Morton, mesmerizing as Circe, the goddess who changes Odysseus’ men into swine. — Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026 There's something mesmerizing about lakes with water so clear that boats appear to float in midair and fish seem suspended in glass. — Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 29 June 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing
  1. hypnotic
  2. fascinating
  3. enthralling
  4. enchanting
  5. riveting
  6. engrossing
  7. seductive
  8. alluring
Adjective
  • Often unfurling over the course of entire afternoons and evenings, González’s knotty, hypnotic works typically test the expectations (and patience) of viewers, who are left to figure out what’s improvised and what isn’t.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Caillois employs this term throughout his 1960 book Méduse et cie (The Mask of Medusa), which traces this hypnotic phenomenon through human as well as natural history.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of hypnotic
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
Definition of fascinating
Adjective
  • The romance of Prague is enthralling, from its pretty winding lanes to its skyline of rising spires.
    — Jaymi McCann, TheWeek, 21 July 2026
  • Creative players both, this could be an enthralling matchup — and Fery should get the Centre Court berth that British players dream about.
    — Ava Wallace, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of enthralling
Verb
  • The rolling meadows, forests, and enchanting Monet gardens form an artistic canvas that complements the hotel’s interiors.
    — Veronica M. Stoddart, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
  • 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
Definition of enchanting
Adjective
  • After four faceoffs in the NBA Finals against the Warriors — with Steph Curry’s squad winning three — and after numerous riveting showdowns since, joining the Warriors would never not feel like joining the enemy.
    — Marcus Thompson II, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • This month brings riveting novels about dogs, stars (the Hollywood kind), small towns and characters with bigger woes than just sweat stains.
    — Colin Dwyer, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of riveting
Adjective
  • The most engrossing aspect of the relationship is that it’s maintained tension.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 24 June 2026
  • Lunch on a Beam is part personal journey, part social history, and wholly engrossing.
    — Air Mail, Air Mail, 20 June 2026
Definition of engrossing
Adjective
  • Margaretha Zelle MacLeod’s stage name came to signify the epitome of the seductive female spy after she was executed by the French in 1917.
    — Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The fragrance opens with ripe fig and bergamot, while brown sugar, licorice, and vetiver lend a dark, seductive edge.
    — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of seductive
Adjective
  • Urgessa is known for his alluring figurative paintings that feature various Black figures often in enigmatic poses and spaces.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Caglianone should take advantage of his matchup against a homer-prone and fly-ball pitcher by launching a home run tonight and cash in for bettors who take advantage of his alluring +489 odds to hit a home run.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of alluring

Browse Nearby Words

mesmerizes
mesmerizing
mesomorphic
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Cite this Entry

“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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