hypnotic

American  

[hip-not-ik] / hɪpˈnɒt ɪk /

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.

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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 British  

/ hɪpˈnɒtɪk /

adjective

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

2. (of a person) susceptible to hypnotism

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noun

1. a drug or agent that induces sleep

2. a person susceptible to hypnosis

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of hypnotic

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

Explanation

Hypnotic things either relate to hypnosis — putting people under spells — or anything that is mesmerizing or spellbinding. You know how hypnotists put people under spells and then make them quack like a duck, or do something equally silly? Hypnotic things relate to hypnosis — like a hypnotist's calm, entrancing, hypnotic voice — or other things that tend to grab people's attention in a similar way. The voice of a powerful public speaker could be described as hypnotic. Great music that you can’t turn off could also be considered hypnotic. Anything hypnotic has a powerful hold on your attention.

Example Sentences

In Mr. Spears’s hypnotic text settings and harmonies, the chorus becomes a kind of breathing atmosphere, echoing the lines of the individual characters and carrying them along with it into waking and sleeping.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Trade the metronome as it swings back and forth, but don’t let the hypnotic sound lull you into complacency.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Day sings about her recent good fortune in “Halo’s” hypnotic opening track, “Everything I’ve Ever Wanted.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Hoover co-wrote the screenplay alongside Lauren Levine, which is why the film bears the same strangely hypnotic, if confusing, pull as her novels.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2026

This should come as no surprise, for in Miss Lumley’s day, séances, Ouija boards, hypnotic healings, and the like were very much in fashion.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood

Related Words

• mesmerizing
• soothing