hypnotic

[hip-not-ik]

adjective

1. of or relating to hypnosis or hypnotism.

2. inducing or like something that induces hypnosis.

3. susceptible to hypnotism, as a person.

4. inducing sleep.

noun

1. an agent or drug that produces sleep; sedative.

2. a person who is susceptible to hypnosis.

3. a person under the influence of hypnotism.

hypnotic

/ hɪpˈnɒtɪk /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or producing hypnosis or sleep

2. (of a person) susceptible to hypnotism

noun

1. a drug or agent that induces sleep

2. a person susceptible to hypnosis

Other Word Forms

• hypnotically adverb
• antihypnotic adjective
• antihypnotically adverb
• nonhypnotic adjective
• nonhypnotically adverb
• prehypnotic adjective
• unhypnotic adjective
• unhypnotically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypnotic¹

1680–90; < Late Latin hypnōticus < Greek hypnōtikós sleep-inducing, narcotic, equivalent to hypnō- (variant stem of hypnoûn to put to sleep; Hypnos ) + -tikos -tic

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypnotic¹

C17: from Late Latin hypnōticus, from Greek hupnōtikos, from hupnoun to put to sleep, from hupnos sleep

Example Sentences

At the helm was Osbourne, who channeled the darker forces within this music with hypnotic wild-child abandon, as if he were possessed by the hellfire spirit.

From Salon

Bianchi alleged his confession and guilty pleas were coerced by “hypnotic manipulation” and that the facts of his confession did not match the physical evidence.

From Los Angeles Times

In their farewell album as Tennis, husband-and-wife folk rockers Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley succinctly pack 14 years of introspection and hypnotic melodies into one stunning record.

From Salon

Set in the idyllic island of Naxos, Greece, Pochoda refashions Euripides’ “The Bacchae” to weave a hypnotic tale of recently widowed Lena, breaking free from the strictures imposed by the men in her life.

From Los Angeles Times

Fans can expect "hypnotic, trance-like pop songs, pulsating and lush" on the album with lyrics that make you feel "young, fun and free" according to Rolling Stone writer Brittany Spanos.

From BBC

Related Words

• mesmerizing 
• soothing