hypnotized

American  

[hip-nuh-tahyzd] / ˈhɪp nəˌtaɪzd /

adjective

1. being in a hypnotic state; feeling the effects of hypnosis.

2. completely influenced or controlled by the words, charm, allure, etc., of someone or something.

---

Other Word Forms

• dehypnotized
  adjective
• half-hypnotized
  adjective
• non-hypnotized
  adjective
• re-hypnotized
  adjective
• self-hypnotized
  adjective
• semi-hypnotized
  adjective
• unhypnotized
  adjective

Explanation

To be hypnotized is to have your attention captured, either by a hypnotist or anything captivating. When hypnotized, it's like you're under a spell. Hypnotists (if you believe in that sort of thing) have the power to capture people's attention and control them. Someone under a hypnotist's power is hypnotized, and the word is used for similar situations. If you can't put down a book, you have become hypnotized by it. People seem hypnotized when they are focused on something and can't look away. To be hypnotized is to be fascinated, mesmerized, spellbound, and transfixed.

Example Sentences

Adrift, alone and haunted by guilt about that incident in her past, she becomes hypnotized by Peter’s superficially rational-sounding ideas.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026

And Janice Franklin now said she and her sister had both been hypnotized to enhance their supposed recollections, and had both lied in court when they denied it.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2024

How deeply someone can be hypnotized -- known as hypnotizability -- appears to be a stable trait that changes little throughout adulthood, much like personality and IQ.

From Science Daily • Jan. 4, 2024

As humans who fundamentally want to be happy and don’t want to suffer, we can choose not to be seduced and hypnotized by the excitement, greed and competitiveness of the tech wizards in Silicon Valley.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2023

As if hypnotized by this wonderful music, my father began to dance.

From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba