animal magnetism

noun

Synonyms of animal magnetismnext
1
: a mysterious force claimed by Mesmer to enable him to hypnotize patients
2
: a magnetic charm or appeal
especially : sex appeal

Synonyms of animal magnetism

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Examples of animal magnetism in a Sentence

a photograph that captures the athlete's animal magnetism
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Each essay in this collection understands science differently—some are analyzing very tangible discoveries, like the x-ray or stethoscope, and others explore pseudosciences like phrenology and animal magnetism. — Chava Pearl Lansky, JSTOR Daily, 30 July 2025 And of course, Fox’s animal magnetism attracted the approval of the rocker. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 17 July 2023 Keoghan’s own animal magnetism is present onscreen, if only because his physicality is so refreshingly untamed. — Matthew Jacobs, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Dec. 2022 Based on the widely popular theory of animal magnetism proposed by Franz Mesmer at the end of the 18th century, Allix claimed that snails are particularly well suited to communicate by a magnetism-like force through the ambient medium. — Justin E. H. Smith, Wired, 3 Mar. 2022 See All Example Sentences for animal magnetism

Word History

First Known Use

1781, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of animal magnetism was in 1781

Rhymes for animal magnetism

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Browse Nearby Words

animally
animal magnetism
animal mechanics
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Cite this Entry

“Animal magnetism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/animal%20magnetism. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

animal magnetism

noun
: a spiritlike force alleged by the Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer (1734–1815) to reside within himself and to be active in his use of therapeutic hypnosis see mesmerism

More from Merriam-Webster on animal magnetism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about animal magnetism

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