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

Derived Forms

• hypˈnotically, adverb

Other Words From

• hyp·noti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·hyp·notic adjective noun
• anti·hyp·noti·cal·ly adverb
• nonhyp·notic adjective noun
• nonhyp·noti·cal·ly adverb
• prehyp·notic adjective
• unhyp·notic adjective
• unhyp·noti·cal·ly 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

The way in which Levy associates one thought with the next has a hypnotic but clarifying effect.

From Washington Post

Tasmania’s Ancient ForestsThere’s something hypnotic about prehistoric rainforests.

From Ozy

Either way, this sound — muddled, breezy, numbing, hypnotic — is here to stay for a while, and we should be listening for its nuance.

From Washington Post

It resulted in a hypnotic, off-kilter lull, Marx says, almost like the electricity flowing through Danielle’s veins.

From Washington Post

Nonetheless, it exists as the album’s beating heart, her voice delicate and filigreed, turning the syllables of the character’s name into a hypnotic incantation.

From Washington Post

As for Manson, Spahn said, there was no explanation—he had a hypnotic spell over the girls, they were his slaves.

From The Daily Beast

[It] does not resemble standard antipsychotic, antidepressant, antianxiety or hypnotic drugs in simple drug interaction tests.

From The Daily Beast

The first thing to hit me were those cats eyes of hers, green with flecks of gold and hypnotic as hell.

From The Daily Beast

There is a rocking, hypnotic peacefulness in the way he puts words together.

From The Daily Beast

He is a master of the breathless paragraph, the hypnotic meditation.

From The Daily Beast

"Please don't try the old hypnotic fakir tricks upon me, Baroudi," she added, pushing up the cushions against the rock behind her.

From Project Gutenberg

She had read in books of the mysteries of hypnotic suggestion, but she was far too practical to believe in that.

From Project Gutenberg

In the medical circles throughout the country a good deal of interest and even enthusiasm over this new hypnotic is noticeable.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the sodium salt of the more or less favorably known hypnotic, Veronal (diethyl-barbituric acid).

From Project Gutenberg

Pas-Avena is a widely advertised nerve sedative and hypnotic.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• mesmerizing
• soothing