3 syllables: Mes, mer, ized. Stress on Mes.
MEZ-mur-eyezd
/ˈmɛzmɚˌaɪzd/
Mesmerized is pronounced MEZ-mur-eyezd (/ˈmɛzmɚˌaɪzd/). It has three syllables (Mes-mer-ized), with the stress on "Mes". Mesmerized is an adjective meaning deeply fascinated or spellbound, as if under a magnetic influence. It describes a state of intense interest or attention, often implying that the person is unaware of their surroundings. The term carries a formal to semi-formal register and is common in narrative and descriptive writing.
adjectiveMesmerized is an adjective meaning deeply fascinated or spellbound, as if under a magnetic influence. It describes a state of intense interest or attention, often implying that the person is unaware of their surroundings. The term carries a formal to semi-formal register and is common in narrative and descriptive writing.
"The audience was mesmerized by the performer's flawless illusion."
"She stood at the window, mesmerized by the sunset over the ocean."
"The documentary left viewers mesmerized, hanging on every word."
Pronounce as /ˈmɛz.məˌraɪzd/ (US) or /ˈmez.məˌraɪzd/ (UK). The primary stress falls on the first syllable: MES-me-rized. The middle /ə/ is a schwa, and the final -ized ends with /aɪzd/ like ‘eye-zd.’ Tip: say 'mes' quickly, then a light schwa, then 'raized' with a long I vowel. You can listen to native examples on Pronounce and Forvo for audio reference.
Common errors include misplacing stress (putting emphasis on the second syllable) and pronouncing the final -ized as /-ɪzd/ or /-ɪst/ rather than /-raɪzd/. Another mistake is merging the two consonants in the middle too loosely, producing /ˈmɛz.məˈraɪzd/ instead of a clean /ˈmɛz.məˌraɪzd/. Focus on the final /aɪzd/ as a separate syllable with clear tongue height for /aɪ/ and a voiced z at the end.
In US English, /ˈmɛz.məˌraɪzd/ with a rhotic /ɹ/ and a clear /æ/ in the first syllable. UK English tends to a slightly tighter vowel in the first syllable and may have a lighter /r/ depending on speaker; final vowel may be less pronounced, /ˈmez.məˌraɪzd/. Australian speakers often reduce the first vowel slightly towards /e/ and maintain a clear /ɹ/ only in rhotic varieties; vowel lengths are similar but with subtle vowel quality shifts. In all, the stress placement remains on the first syllable.
The difficulty comes from the medial schwa followed by a long diphthong in the final syllable /əˌraɪzd/, plus a trailing /zd/ cluster that can blur in fast speech. The transition from the unstressed middle syllable to the stressed final syllable requires precise tongue fronting for /e/ and glide control for /raɪz/. Getting the final 'zed' to be voiced without overemphasizing the 'z' can be challenging in rapid or connected speech.
Yes. The first syllable carries strong beat and a crisp /z/ sound, acting as a closed onset cluster with /m/ and /z/—/mɛz/. The word’s rhythm is three-syllable with the primary stress on the first: MES-me-rized. In careful speech, you’ll articulate /mɛz/ clearly before moving to the mid unstressed /mə/ and the final stressed /raɪzd/. Using a short, crisp /z/ in the first syllable helps prevent an overly long first vowel and keeps the energy forward into the final /raɪzd/.
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Mesmerized derives from the name of the 18th-century physician Franz Anton Mesmer, who proposed the theory of animal magnetism. The root is Middle French mesmériser, from Greek verb mim, ‘to imitate, to mimic,’ later associated with Mesmer’s influential yet controversial ideas about hypnotic influence and suggestion. The modern sense, “to be hypnotized or deeply fascinated,” emerged in English in the 19th century as the concept of mesmerism entered popular usage. The evolution reflects a shift from a specific historical claim about magnetism to a broader, figurative use describing intense captivation. The earliest known use in print traces to the early 1800s, with later attested popularity in literary and journalistic contexts as the word standardized in common usage. Today, mesmerized conveys not just interest but a passive absorption, often with connotations of wonder or awe at something striking or otherworldly.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mesmerized" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Mesmerized"
-zed sounds
-sed sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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