mesmerize
2 antonyms and opposites of mesmerize, grouped by meaning.
Verb — To hold someone's attention so completely that they cannot look away or think about anything else.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To hold someone's attention so completely that they cannot look away or think about anything else.
“The dancers mesmerized the whole audience.”
Opposites
2. verb dated
To hypnotise someone.
“The showman claimed he could mesmerize a volunteer in seconds.”
Antonyms
How to Use Mesmerize
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Neutral and common; usually positive, describing something beautiful or striking.
Etymology
From the name of Franz Anton Mesmer, the eighteenth-century German physician whose theory of 'animal magnetism' gave rise to the practice later called hypnotism. He practised for years in Vienna, which is why he is often loosely called Austrian.
Full origin of mesmerize →Frequently Asked Questions
Is it mesmerize or mesmerise?
Both are correct. Mesmerize is standard in American English and also widely used in Britain, while mesmerise follows the usual British -ise pattern.
What is the difference between mesmerize and hypnotise?
Hypnotise means to put someone into an actual trance state. Mesmerize now nearly always means to fascinate someone completely, though it started out as another word for hypnotise.