animal magnetism

noun

1

: a mysterious force claimed by Mesmer to enable him to hypnotize patients

2

: a magnetic charm or appeal

especially : sex appeal

Synonyms

• allure
• appeal
• attractiveness
• captivation
• charisma
• charm
• duende
• enchantment
• fascination
• force field
• glamour
• glamor
• magic
• magnetism
• oomph
• pizzazz
• pizazz
• seductiveness
• witchery

Examples of animal magnetism in a Sentence

a photograph that captures the athlete's animal magnetism

Recent Examples on the Web

Other topics of his lectures over the years that followed included animal magnetism, hypnotism, and the ether. —Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 12 Apr. 2024

And of course, Fox’s animal magnetism attracted the approval of the rocker. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 July 2023

Keoghan’s own animal magnetism is present onscreen, if only because his physicality is so refreshingly untamed. —Matthew Jacobs, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2022

Based on the widely popular theory of animal magnetism proposed by Franz Mesmer at the end of the 18th century, Allix claimed that snails are particularly well suited to communicate by a magnetism-like force through the ambient medium. —Justin E. H. Smith, Wired, 3 Mar. 2022

In the eighteenth century, Franz Mesmer introduced his concept of mesmerism, or animal magnetism, involving a universal vital fluid that passes in and out through our pores. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2021

Your animal magnetism could be a big turn-on for a special someone this evening. —Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, 15 May 2021

The student need not believe that Noah existed, or that his animal magnetism was as great as is said, or how long-lived his children were. —Luther Ray Abel, National Review, 17 Sep. 2020

The charismatic Sun moves into your sign today, enhancing your animal magnetism. —Tarot Astrologers, chicagotribune.com, 22 Aug. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for animal magnetism

• abolitionism
• aldosteronism
• americanism
• anticommunism
• antisemitism
• antiterrorism
• bioterrorism
• colloquialism
• colonialism
• consequentialism
• contextualism
• conventionalism

Medical Definition

animal magnetism

noun

: a spiritlike force alleged by the Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815) to reside within himself and to be active in his use of therapeutic hypnosis see mesmerism