mesmerised

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'mesmerised' is correct and is commonly used in written English.
It means to hold someone's attention completely and to fascinate or captivate them. Example: The beautiful dancer mesmerised the audience with her graceful movements and elegant performance.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When I was a kid watching the Italia 90 World Cup, that stadium mesmerised me.

The Guardian - Sport

It is as if both parties have been mesmerised, both by the rise of Ukip and the opinion polling which reflects people's fear of immigration.

The Guardian - Opinion

For more than 30 years, British politicians have been mesmerised by the tactics, strategic methods and media management techniques of their counterparts in the United States.

The Guardian - Opinion

The book has, in addition, mesmerised the economics profession because of the way Piketty creates his own world, theoretically.

The Guardian - Books

Unfortunately, she was too mesmerised by the sight of the beast to get her camera and take a photograph of it.

The Guardian

My father-in-law blew a raspberry into a Vine message that loops over and over again, and he's mesmerised by it.

The Guardian - Tech

Another striking pattern is that new presidents all begin by talking tough about China, and all end up mesmerised by the dragon.

The Economist

But most of the parliamentary cadre were too mesmerised by his mystique and too intimidated by his supporters to force one.

The Economist

He died under house arrest four years ago, largely forgotten by the many inside and outside China who were mesmerised by the country's economic boom and wanted to forget the bloody culmination of the Tiananmen unrest.Now Zhao's insights into this struggle (secretly recorded on cassette tapes and smuggled out to friends) have been translated into English and compiled into a book.

The Economist

Investors are mesmerised by the inability of European politicians to deal with the sovereign-debt crisis and are worried about the health of the region's banks.

The Economist

More people will spend weekends without leaving the house, mesmerised by their monitors.The internet will also change programming.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mesmerised" when you want to emphasize that someone is completely captivated and unable to look away or think of anything else.

Common error

Avoid using "mesmerised" when a simpler term like "interested" or "attentive" would suffice. Overusing "mesmerised" can make your writing sound overly dramatic or unnatural.

Linguistic Context

The primary function of "mesmerised" is to act as a past participle adjective, describing a state of being completely captivated or entranced. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment that it is correct and commonly used in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "mesmerised" is a correct and commonly used past participle adjective that describes a state of being completely captivated or entranced. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usage in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, the term serves to emphasize intense fascination. While alternatives like "captivated" or "spellbound" exist, "mesmerised" carries a unique weight, denoting a near-hypnotic level of absorption. Remember to use it judiciously to avoid sounding overly dramatic. Overall, "mesmerised" is a versatile word with a specific, potent meaning that, when used correctly, can greatly enhance the impact of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

captivated

Focuses more on the charming or attractive quality that causes absorption.

spellbound

Suggests a magical or enchanting quality to the absorption.

enthralled

Implies a deeper, more intense level of fascination.

fascinated

A more general term for being very interested and attentive.

hypnotized

Indicates a trance-like state of captivation, often suggesting a loss of awareness.

transfixed

Emphasizes being motionless and fixated, as if unable to move.

riveted

Highlights the inability to look away, as if held in place.

absorbed

Focuses on complete mental engagement, possibly to the exclusion of other thoughts.

engrossed

Similar to absorbed, but often implies a longer duration of engagement.

enchanted

Suggests a delightful and pleasurable experience of captivation.

FAQs

How can I use "mesmerised" in a sentence?

You can use "mesmerised" to describe someone completely captivated by something. For example, "The audience was "mesmerised" by the performance."

What's the difference between "fascinated" and "mesmerised"?

"Fascinated" implies a strong interest, while "mesmerised" suggests a state of being completely captivated, almost entranced. "Mesmerised" implies a deeper level of absorption.

What can I say instead of "mesmerised"?

You can use alternatives like "captivated", "spellbound", or "enthralled" depending on the context.

Is "mesmerised" the same as "hypnotized"?

While both suggest a state of being deeply influenced, "hypnotized" implies a loss of control, while "mesmerised" suggests a strong captivation without necessarily losing control. However, the term "hypnotized" can be used as an alternative, but make sure that the level of control is considered.