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

Explanation

If you’re mesmerized, you are so fascinated by something, you can’t look away. The mesmerized look in your eyes reveals that watching hockey seems to put you in a trance. Pronounced "mez-mur-ized," the adjective mesmerized describes being held in place by something — not physically — but by extreme interest in what you see or hear. Great movies keep you mesmerized or almost hypnotized with giant images and sounds. Being mesmerized almost feels like you are in a spell, as some people feel when looking at celebrity gossip and photos online.

Example Sentences

And I’m sure they were mesmerized by my makeup.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Before arriving at LACMA, his “Sueño Perro” mesmerized audiences in Milan, Italy, and in his hometown of Mexico City.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

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 • Jan. 24, 2026

Onlookers are invited to be mesmerized by the fuchsia flames of Gwi-Ma’s realm as the movie’s hooky synth pop bounces in the foreground.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2025

I sat on a bench overlooking the court, mesmerized by their impeccable styles.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

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