1. a person who practices mesmerism or hypnotism
Usage: historical
2. a person who has a powerful, captivating influence over others
Usage: figurative

Examples

• The 19th-century mesmerist claimed he could cure ailments through magnetic healing.
• Franz Anton Mesmer was the original mesmerist who developed the theory of animal magnetism.
• The stage mesmerist entertained audiences by putting volunteers into trances.
• As a skilled mesmerist, she could hypnotize patients to help them overcome phobias.
• The charismatic leader was described as a mesmerist who could sway crowds with his speeches.
• Historical accounts describe the mesmerist’s ability to induce sleep-like states in subjects.