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; 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

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

It creates a hypnotic sound that makes songs flow rather than drone on, especially when backed by Blake’s enthralling production.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

Back and forth, neither of us missing, the ball blurring between us in that hypnotic rhythm that makes everything else disappear.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Labubu hauls, Temu hauls, endless TikToks of nails clicking ASMR-style up and down a color-coded Stanley tumbler—it was a little hypnotic, a little horrifying.

From Salon • Jan. 11, 2026

That she is still journeying somewhere is apparent, for Mrs. Harker’s hypnotic report at sunrise was still the same.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker

Related Words

• mesmerizing
• soothing