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Mesmerize - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

To mesmerize means to captivate or hold someone’s attention completely, often through fascination or wonder. It implies a powerful, almost spellbinding effect that leaves the observer entranced.

mesmerize

/ˈmɛzməˌraɪz/ /ˈmɛzməraɪz/

Definition:

To hold someone's attention completely, as if by magic or fascination.

Synonyms:

captivate, enchant, hypnotize, spellbind

Part of Speech:

verb

Antonyms:

bore, repel

Common Collocations:

mesmerize the audience, completely mesmerized, mesmerizing performance

Derivatives:

mesmerizing, mesmerized, mesmerizer

Usage Tips:

Use "mesmerize" to describe intense fascination, often implying a magical or hypnotic quality.

Common Phrases:

under his spell, lost in fascination, like a moth to a flame

Etymology:

Derived from Franz Mesmer, an 18th-century physician known for his theories on animal magnetism.

Examples:

  • 1. The magician's tricks mesmerized the children.
  • 2. Her singing voice can mesmerize any crowd.
  • 3. He was mesmerized by the flickering flames of the fire.
  • 4. The movie's visuals are designed to mesmerize viewers.

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