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

Example Sentences

Adapted from Polish author Stanisław Lem’s novel, Russian director Andrei Tarkovsky’s slow, hypnotic “Solaris” follows a psychologist sent to a remote space station where the crew is already beginning to unravel.

From Los Angeles Times

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

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

Curiously, he notes, people have such reverence for these hypnotic streams of light that they duck to avoid disturbing them rather than crossing in front of them.

From Los Angeles Times

The host handed me a blindfold and Bose noise-canceling headphones, playing the hypnotic sounds of a space drum with birds chirping in the distance.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• mesmerizing
• soothing