Meaning & use

hypnotic

adjective·Advanced

Causing sleep, drowsiness, or a trance-like state that dulls awareness of one's surroundings.

See it in a sentence

The steady rhythm of the waves had a hypnotic effect on the tired travelers.

She fell under the hypnotic sway of the swaying pendulum.

A note on using this word

Hypnotic can describe both literal sleep-inducing effects and a figuratively spellbinding quality.

Words with a similar meaning

mesmerizingsoporific

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. noun

A drug used to induce sleep.

The doctor prescribed a mild hypnotic to help him through a stretch of insomnia.

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