gorgonize

American

[gawr-guh-nahyz] / ˈgɔr gəˌnaɪz /

especially British, gorgonise

verb (used with object)

gorgonized, gorgonizing

to affect as a Gorgon; hypnotize; petrify.

She felt trapped and totally helpless in his gorgonizing stare.

Etymology

Origin of gorgonize

First recorded in 1600–10; Gorgon + -ize

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Such spectacles of human perfidy are the real Medusas that Gorgonize trusting, tender, throbbing hearts, and in view of this one I laughed aloud,—laughed so unnaturally that it was no marvel I was called a maniac.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023