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
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
All attack the material with full-throttle commitment — especially Juliette Lewis, in a mesmerizing Broadway debut.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s on top of them viewing a solar eclipse in space, and the many mesmerizing photos folks back on planet Earth have been treated to thanks to NASA.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Darker than silver but not quite as piercing as solid black, black cat-eye tips are edgy and mesmerizing.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández sets this mesmerizing, lyrical portrait of masculinity and tenderness against the backdrop of a busy LAX flight path.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
Musically, the singer-songwriter presents us with 13 tracks of sonic elegance, featuring electronic touches and mesmerizing guitars that convey nostalgia while also reflecting the overflowing joy of someone who has overcome an emotional crisis.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Jin shows off his mesmerizing, masterful knife skills.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Apr. 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
That such a seemingly commonplace location is elevated to feel mesmerizing speaks to how animation can make the mundane anew.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 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
Despite his character’s transparency, Musella’s performance is mesmerizing.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The collection of art is mesmerizing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
All attack the material with full-throttle commitment — especially Juliette Lewis, in a mesmerizing Broadway debut.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s on top of them viewing a solar eclipse in space, and the many mesmerizing photos folks back on planet Earth have been treated to thanks to NASA.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Darker than silver but not quite as piercing as solid black, black cat-eye tips are edgy and mesmerizing.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández sets this mesmerizing, lyrical portrait of masculinity and tenderness against the backdrop of a busy LAX flight path.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
Musically, the singer-songwriter presents us with 13 tracks of sonic elegance, featuring electronic touches and mesmerizing guitars that convey nostalgia while also reflecting the overflowing joy of someone who has overcome an emotional crisis.
—Tere Aguilera, Billboard, 27 Mar. 2026
Jin shows off his mesmerizing, masterful knife skills.
—Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
But this 3 still looks like the cooler play, absolutely mesmerizing in a vacuum.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Apr. 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
That such a seemingly commonplace location is elevated to feel mesmerizing speaks to how animation can make the mundane anew.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 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
Despite his character’s transparency, Musella’s performance is mesmerizing.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing
Adjective
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The novel delivers all the frenzy of a gold rush with rhythmic, hypnotic prose.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Whether built as a hypnotic, recurring shape, a rampant contagion or both, music this uncompromising and unpredictable always carries a message for those who need to hear it.—
Reed Jackson,
SPIN,
24 Apr. 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
-
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
-
His absence in the Warriors’ last home game of the regular season also put a damper on what could have been another enthralling matchup of two of the NBA’s biggest stars.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
It was broadcast worldwide, enchanting some 30 million viewers.—
Francesca Pellegrini,
Vanity Fair,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The face enchanting enough to gain entry into this party of the Four Hundred.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Watching a prodigy embarrass the world over 72 holes was riveting; equally captivating is following the same person be exposed by life, hubris and ego.—
Mac Engel
April 9,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Although McKellen’s Julian is colorful and riveting, Solomon saw Coel’s Lori as the protagonist from whose perspective the movie would largely be told.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This engrossing and thoroughly original thriller combines racing suspense with a moving story about the need for human connection.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Her talent for channeling this script is the building block for thoughtful, engrossing theater.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On World Rhythms, Lockwood trusts the listener to hear the arc of its noises, to trace their emergence and disappearance, their strange, seductive confluence.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Together, Venus and Pluto create a blend of seductive charm, substance and intellectual stimulation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Now, an alluring, sustainably minded bolthole—part of the Design Hotels portfolio—has opened in the Kissamos countryside, around forty minutes’ drive from Chania in rural Trachilos.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
That Niall finds Ruben so alluring is natural to Gadd, who believes the notion of a valiant male figure has been bred into everyone via fables and fairy tales.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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