MESMERIZING Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

mesmerizing 1 of 2

adjective

as in hypnotic

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mesmerizing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mesmerize

as in fascinating

to hold the attention of as if by a spell discovered that the children were mesmerized by a television show

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of mesmerizing

Adjective

The opening chase scene is gorgeously animated, the kind of sequence that makes Common Side Effects distinct visual style that is at once both goofy and realistic so mesmerizing to watch. — Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026 Oyo once held the unofficial title of the world’s youngest king, a mesmerizing figure even for world leaders introduced to him at national events, including South Africa’s Nelson Mandela. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Cat’s Eye Enchantment Be careful with these, because their mesmerizing powers aren’t to be messed with. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026 On the upper level will be a cafe that leads to the most picturesque setting in college basketball, a patio area where the ocean view of Malibu is stunning and mesmerizing. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 The famous YouTuber's music wows IRL, as concert-goers were treated to the red-haired multi-instrumentalist spinning around stage and turning her bow into a mesmerizing show. — Olivia Evans, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Sep. 2026 Clearly a labor of love, the film stars Stanley Tucci, currently hot because of his mesmerizing turn in television’s Murder One, and Tony Shalhoub. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2026 Control Resonant, the sequel, takes most of that game’s gorgeous visual language and explodes it all over an open-world New York City, to mesmerizing results. — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 18 Sep. 2026 Over the past decade, ctenophores have helped answer long-standing questions about fundamental biology, from how early nervous systems evolved to the origins of the mesmerizing phenomenon of bioluminescence. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

The silver swirls on the tips against a bare background make for mesmerizing texture to elevate any Halloween nail look. — Michella Oré, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026 While Boyle’s Bankman-Fried seems a little more grounded than his real-life counterpart, Garner’s high-wire swing as Ellison is mesmerizing — her kookiest turn yet in a career of big swings. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026 François-Pierre Couture’s scenic design is mesmerizing without ever being overbearing. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 Hüller is mesmerizing in what initially feels like a silent-film performance, magnificently expressive and physical, before the emotional wallop of the final act. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 The crew’s glowing-in-the-dark orange sneakers, set against a pure deep-blue backdrop, was as weirdly mesmerizing a visual as anything put on stage or screen during the evening. — Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Clinamen @ The Park Avenue Armory Céleste Boursier-Mougenot’s Clinamen was mesmerizing in its simplicity. — Jesse Kirshbaum, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026 Every bright spot in this mesmerizing cosmic chandelier is an individual star in the cluster. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026 But certain guessers are surprisingly astute in ways that are mesmerizing to watch and occasionally informative. — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing

Adjective

Combining established research on what makes babies happy with the results of infant focus groups, the catchy melody, walking bassline and playful lyrics are almost hypnotic, stopping nascent meltdowns in their tracks.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
The hypnotic moment when cream meets iced coffee, bottled up in a manicure.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hypnotic

Verb

From bizarre medical tests to a mass phobia of beans, here are 14 surprising facts that reveal just how inventive, eccentric, and fascinating the ancient Greeks really were.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
The trailer promises fascinating new characters, like one man who lives on a sailboat for most of the year.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of fascinating

Adjective

Kamran Pasha has devised a truly unique take that honors the source material while expanding it in an enthralling, unexpected way.

— Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
And in the face of such adversity, the fanbase has opted for a measure of gallows humor – symbolized by hundreds of inflatable yellow bananas that punctuated the capacity crowd that was treated to an enthralling match against PSG.

— Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of enthralling

Verb

Even the Owens family’s enchanting New England home, which the internet has spent nearly three decades foaming at the mouth over, is barely seen, as much of the film takes place overseas.

— Angie Martoccio, Rolling Stone, 13 Sep. 2026
Practical Magic 2 has Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman enchanting a new generation of fans, but not everyone from the original cast returned for the sequel.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of enchanting

Adjective

However, as Pamela Colloff reveals in her taut and engrossing investigation, a scheming jailhouse snitch’s testimony was largely responsible for putting Dailey on death row for decades.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
The story of his exfiltration from Moscow is utterly engrossing.

— The Week US, TheWeek, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of engrossing

Adjective

The shoes appeared similar to the popular DSquared 2 Riri heeled sandals, which are also a sleek, seductive and rebellious style with towering heels and straps that wrap around the foot and ankle with super-thin leather ties.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
Andy Warhol, working from a photograph that had appeared in a pinup magazine featuring Mat Queens, created a silk screen of Drexler as Rosa, mid-lunge, at once menacing and seductive.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of seductive

Adjective

But for me, the thought of sipping a soothingly cold drink on the porch outside my villa is even more alluring.

— Charukesi Ramadurai, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
Like its agricultural and horticultural counterparts, the monoculture of era-defining music, TV and movies seemed alluring on the surface.

— Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of alluring

Browse Nearby Words

mesmerizes

mesmerizing

mesomorphic

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Cite this Entry

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“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of mesmerizing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

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