hypnosis

[ hip-noh-sis ]

noun

, plural hyp·no·ses [hip-, noh, -seez].

1. an artificially induced trance state resembling sleep, characterized by heightened susceptibility to suggestion.
2. hypnotism.

hypnosis

/ hɪpˈnəʊsɪs /

noun

1. an artificially induced state of relaxation and concentration in which deeper parts of the mind become more accessible: used clinically to reduce reaction to pain, to encourage free association, etc See also autohypnosis

hypnosis

/ hĭp-nō′sĭs /

1. A trancelike state resembling sleep, usually induced by a therapist by focusing a subject's attention, that heightens the subject's receptivity to suggestion. The uses of hypnosis in medicine and psychology include recovering repressed memories, modifying or eliminating undesirable behavior (such as smoking), and treating certain chronic disorders, such as anxiety.

hypnosis

1. Placing persons in a drowsy, sleeplike state in which they allegedly become vulnerable to the suggestions made by the hypnotist. Hypnosis may also be used to tap into the unconscious and is often characterized by vivid recall of memories and fantasies. These properties make hypnosis a useful tool in psychotherapy . Hypnosis also has sinister implications, for subjects may be manipulated to perform embarrassing actions or be susceptible to carrying out the hypnotist's commands after the hypnosis session (posthypnotic suggestion).

Word History and Origins

Origin of hypnosis¹

First recorded in 1875–80; hypn(otic) + -osis

Example Sentences

She was brave and defiant, but also funny and stubborn like the time she accepted Dad’s challenge to quit smoking by listening to the hypnosis tapes he had given her for her birthday.

From Time

Like meditation practice, many people are capable of doing hypnosis on their own, Spiegel says.

From Time

Faubion notes that hypnosis and cognitive behavioral therapy have both been shown to be promising, probably because they reduce the anxiety associated with some menopause symptoms.

From Time

Collin had another plan — she made a virtual appointment with her therapist, scheduled a hypnosis session and deleted Twitter from her phone.

From Digiday

Using research from cognitive neuropsychology and hypnosis, our recent paper argues in favor of the latter position, even though this seems to undermine the compelling sense of authorship we have over our consciousness.

From Singularity Hub 

In a deposition given under hypnosis two years later, he remembered that he “woke up, saw my death, and looked around.”

From The Daily Beast

In addition, Bleckwenn used hypnosis to try to achieve a similar state.

From The Daily Beast

I believe that creativity requires a form of auto-hypnosis in order to work.

From The Daily Beast

It was enough to feel, as one model came down the runway after another, a state of hypnosis coming on.

From The Daily Beast

The government declined her offer to undergo hypnosis to see if she could recall any additional information.

From The Daily Beast

Originally, he endeavoured to reawaken the memory of the sexual trauma by means of the induction of profound hypnosis.

From Project Gutenberg

What is meant by rapport in the group may be illustrated by a somewhat similar phenomenon which occurs in hypnosis.

From Project Gutenberg

It must be traced in the literature of automatisms, hypnosis, divided personality, and the "subliminal."

From Project Gutenberg

Repeated advertising of a tooth brush or a box of crackers is mild mental suggestion—hypnosis, if you will.

From Project Gutenberg

"Very well," I answered, feeling myself in profound hypnosis.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• coma
• slumber
• trance