as in hypnotic
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as in fascinating
to hold the attention of as if by a spell
discovered that the children were mesmerized by a television show
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Recent Examples of mesmerizing
Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
The most lasting albums were built on the tradition of musique concrète, leading to dense, mesmerizing collages.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The collection of art is mesmerizing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
All attack the material with full-throttle commitment — especially Juliette Lewis, in a mesmerizing Broadway debut.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s on top of them viewing a solar eclipse in space, and the many mesmerizing photos folks back on planet Earth have been treated to thanks to NASA.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Darker than silver but not quite as piercing as solid black, black cat-eye tips are edgy and mesmerizing.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández sets this mesmerizing, lyrical portrait of masculinity and tenderness against the backdrop of a busy LAX flight path.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Like many of my favorite live performances from decades before and since, these four are mesmerizing — albeit for very different reasons.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Authentic and proud cultural celebrations, luaus are uniquely entertaining and, at times, simply mesmerizing with Polynesian dancing and drumming as well as chants, songs and stories about ancient traditions, legends and epic Pacific Ocean migrations.
—Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
That such a seemingly commonplace location is elevated to feel mesmerizing speaks to how animation can make the mundane anew.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The haunting and moving scenes lensed inside this narrow alcove-like space were all really shot on-location and make for mesmerizing viewing.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Its misty mountains are mesmerizing and home to all kinds of plants and wildlife, including fireflies that synchronize for a few weeks each year.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Far fewer visitors make it to this stunning natural attraction, known for its impenetrably turquoise water, so mesmerizing that it was once thought to be bottomless.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his character’s transparency, Musella’s performance is mesmerizing.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The peaches are a mesmerizing sweet-and-spicy mixture that makes this Brie recipe absolutely irresistible.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026
The most lasting albums were built on the tradition of musique concrète, leading to dense, mesmerizing collages.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The collection of art is mesmerizing.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
All attack the material with full-throttle commitment — especially Juliette Lewis, in a mesmerizing Broadway debut.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026
Lowery manifests that vision as a swirling tangle of red fabric that acquires an almost corporeal form, a mesmerizing jolt of color in the sumptuous darkness of DP Andrew Droz Palermo’s visuals (Rina Yang shot the concert scenes).
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026
That’s on top of them viewing a solar eclipse in space, and the many mesmerizing photos folks back on planet Earth have been treated to thanks to NASA.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Darker than silver but not quite as piercing as solid black, black cat-eye tips are edgy and mesmerizing.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 10 Apr. 2026
Writer-director Walter Thompson-Hernández sets this mesmerizing, lyrical portrait of masculinity and tenderness against the backdrop of a busy LAX flight path.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
But this 3 still looks like the cooler play, absolutely mesmerizing in a vacuum.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Like many of my favorite live performances from decades before and since, these four are mesmerizing — albeit for very different reasons.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Authentic and proud cultural celebrations, luaus are uniquely entertaining and, at times, simply mesmerizing with Polynesian dancing and drumming as well as chants, songs and stories about ancient traditions, legends and epic Pacific Ocean migrations.
—Ben Davidson, Mercury News, 16 Mar. 2026
That such a seemingly commonplace location is elevated to feel mesmerizing speaks to how animation can make the mundane anew.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
The haunting and moving scenes lensed inside this narrow alcove-like space were all really shot on-location and make for mesmerizing viewing.
—Thinus Ferreira, Variety, 6 Mar. 2026
Its misty mountains are mesmerizing and home to all kinds of plants and wildlife, including fireflies that synchronize for a few weeks each year.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
Far fewer visitors make it to this stunning natural attraction, known for its impenetrably turquoise water, so mesmerizing that it was once thought to be bottomless.
—Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
Despite his character’s transparency, Musella’s performance is mesmerizing.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerizing
Adjective
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The London Symphony Orchestra and the Escolania de Montserrat i Cor Cambra Palau de la Música Catalana choir bolster the album, their arrangements ranging from anxious and erratic to soothing and hypnotic.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
2 May 2026
-
This reimagining of a niche Japanese Dreamcast game turns the simple game of squash into a mind-bending journey through space and time, thanks to hypnotic visuals and music.—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Wilentz, author of the 2010 book Dylan in America, wrote Volume 18‘s detailed, often fascinating 125-page liner notes that provides historical context for the expansive eight-CD set.—
Glenn Peoples,
Billboard,
7 Nov. 2025
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Once on the ground visitors can enjoy Greenland’s rugged coastal landscapes, fascinating indigenous Inuit culture, and the opportunity to experience the country at its primordial best.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Watching the two teams toggle schematic approaches mid-series and adjust rosters in the offseasons to better matchup with one another has produced an enthralling chess match.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
-
His absence in the Warriors’ last home game of the regular season also put a damper on what could have been another enthralling matchup of two of the NBA’s biggest stars.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That studio bosses of today don’t care about enchanting audiences.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Equally enchanting this fashion month were Celine’s colorful leather pouches—particularly in cobalt blue, a trending hue—as seen on Ramya Giangola and Yumi Shin below.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The series is riveting and disturbing, culminating with Bateman’s arrest and eventual conviction.—
Maira Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
What a riveting, exciting, truly revolutionary episode of Survivor.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
An especially visually striking debut, Mosquitoes exists in a saturated hyperreality that is consummately engrossing, and announces the Bertani sisters as formidable portraitists of girlhood cast against the backdrop of an alternately beautiful and oppressive world.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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Crack into a can of craft beer, gaze at the wall plastered with polaroids of smiling patrons, and tuck into an engrossing read on one of the tweed armchairs.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On World Rhythms, Lockwood trusts the listener to hear the arc of its noises, to trace their emergence and disappearance, their strange, seductive confluence.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Together, Venus and Pluto create a blend of seductive charm, substance and intellectual stimulation.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet, despite the film’s foregrounding of music, including with brief but alluring snippets of performance, the subject remains abstract.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Many are very nicely presented and equipped with stylish carrying cases that add a touch of sophistication and make the entire package far more alluring.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerizing. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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