# hypnotic

/hɪpˈnɑtɪk/ (US) · /hɪpnˈɒtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hypnotic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. fascinating or trance-like

adjective · CEFR B2

so interesting or repetitive that you cannot stop looking at it, almost like you are in a dream.

For teachers: capturing a person's attention to the exclusion of all else, as if placing them into a trance.

- The rhythmic sound of the waves had a hypnotic effect on the tired travelers.
- The dancer's fluid, repetitive movements were hypnotic, holding the audience in a state of silent fascination for the entire performance.

### 2. relating to hypnosis

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

connected to the practice of hypnosis, where someone is put into a state of deep relaxation to follow suggestions.

For teachers: of or relating to the induction or state of hypnosis.

- The therapist used hypnotic techniques to help the patient recall forgotten memories.
- Clinical studies have explored the efficacy of hypnotic suggestion in managing chronic pain for patients resistant to traditional medication.

### 3. inducing sleep

adjective · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

describes something, like a drug or a sound, that makes you feel very sleepy.

For teachers: tending to induce sleep; acting as a soporific.

- The doctor warned that the new medicine had a strong hypnotic quality.
- The patient was prescribed a mild hypnotic agent to combat the insomnia caused by his high-stress occupation.

### 4. a sleep-inducing drug

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of medicine that a doctor gives you to help you fall asleep.

For teachers: a drug or agent that induces sleep.

- He had to take a hypnotic every night just to get a few hours of rest.
- The pharmacologist explained that while the hypnotic was effective for short-term use, it carried a significant risk of dependency if taken long-term.

## Examples

- The dancer's movements were slow and hypnotic.
- The steady, rhythmic sound of the rain on the roof had a hypnotic effect on the tired travelers.
- The film's long, unbroken shots and ambient soundtrack create a hypnotic atmosphere that draws the viewer into a state of deep contemplation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.