mesmerized

American  

[mez-muh-rahyzd, mes] / ˈmɛz məˌraɪzd, ˈmɛs /

especially British, mesmerised

adjective

1. in a hypnotic or trancelike state; hypnotized.

   “I could create the odor of any kind of fruit and make a mesmerized person taste and smell it,” wrote 19th-century psychic Phineas Quimby.

2. having the attention completely absorbed; fascinated, captivated, or spellbound.

   At our first annual poetry slam, 28 students wielded their verbal prowess in front of a mesmerized audience of over 300.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of mesmerize.

Other Word Forms

• unmesmerized adjective

Etymology

Origin of mesmerized

First recorded in 1825–35; mesmerize ( def. ) + -ed ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; mesmerize ( def. ) + -ed ¹ ( def. ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

After struggling another minute, I surrender the packet and find myself briefly mesmerized by the sight of him tearing open the package with his teeth.

From Literature

He was mesmerized by what the man did next, which was to apply the colored goo onto the flat surface of the canvas.

From Literature

So the two of us stayed there staring, a little embarrassed and kind of mesmerized, for a minute or so.

From Literature

My mom and dad happily accept the invitation, and Abuela looks mesmerized upon hearing all this.

From Literature

He started sumo wrestling, too, and as a preteen was mesmerized by a YouTube clip he saw of a famous match between sumo legends Takanohana and Asashoryu.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• absorbed
• aroused
• delighted
• enamored
• enchanted
• enthralled
• excited
• intoxicated
• thrilled