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

Bobby Krlic’s mournful score is alternately dreamy and eerie, the instrumental music abruptly cutting out in the middle of a hypnotic passage.

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The hypnotic tune with a memorable “nah na na na nah” chorus earned them appearances on TV music variety programs like “American Bandstand.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Related Words

• mesmerizing 
• soothing