Mesmerism

Pronunciation: /ˈmɛsmərˌɪzəm/

Mesmerism (noun)

  1. A state where someone’s attention is held so strongly that they cannot think or act freely.
  2. An old practice using a person’s gaze or movements to make another person enter a trance.

Examples

  • Her smile held my attention through mesmerism.
  • The speaker used mesmerism to keep the audience focused.