as in hypnotism
the art or act of inducing in a person a sleeplike state during which he or she readily follows suggestions
made a living at mesmerism and the selling of medical remedies of dubious value
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Recent Examples of mesmerism
Barrymore’s turn in the lead role is itself a feat of silver-screen mesmerism, portraying Svengali as a cruel yet magnetic figure who wields his own charisma as an instrument of terrible power.
—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2025
Richter then turned to the master of musical mesmerism for the movie’s soundtrack, to be performed live by a 14-player chamber ensemble of strings, winds and pairs of vibraphones and pianos.
—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2023
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
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
16 Jan. 2025
Richter then turned to the master of musical mesmerism for the movie’s soundtrack, to be performed live by a 14-player chamber ensemble of strings, winds and pairs of vibraphones and pianos.
—
Mark Swed,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2023
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mesmerism
hypnotism
Noun
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This hypnotism is especially conveyed through the film’s costumes.
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Other topics of his lectures over the years that followed included animal magnetism, hypnotism, and the ether.
Cite this Entry
“Mesmerism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mesmerism. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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