A mind-reader is a person who claims to be able to perceive the thoughts, emotions, or intentions of another individual without the use of normal sensory input. This ability is often attributed to telepathy or extrasensory perception (ESP). Mind-reading, in reality, is a pseudoscience, and no scientifically verified instances have proven its legitimacy. The term is often used in a metaphorical sense to describe someone who is perceptive and can anticipate or understand another person's needs or actions, even if they aren't communicating them directly. Skilled actors, psychologists, and negotiators might be considered mind-readers in this figurative sense.
Mind-reader meaning with examples
- The stage magician claimed to be a mind-reader, correctly guessing the audience's chosen cards through trickery and misdirection, rather than any real psychic ability. He built a successful career using clever techniques. His performance captivated and amazed the audiences, and he sold many tickets for his incredible shows.
- Sarah felt like her friend was a mind-reader, always knowing when she needed support or a kind word without her having to say anything. She often joked about how much her friend could tell about her life, and how they seemed to connect so easily. She appreciated her understanding and her support.
- The detective, through astute observation and deduction, was able to anticipate the criminal's next move, leading the press to call him a mind-reader. The detective used his deductive skills to read what the criminal would do, which solved several high-profile cases.
- While marketing strategies and surveys can offer insight, no company can truly be a mind-reader and perfectly predict the wants and needs of every customer. Marketers use data, research and behavioral science to provide the best consumer strategies.
- Though she pretended to be a mind-reader for fun, the psychic’s actual talent lay in building rapport and interpreting body language, which enabled her to offer surprisingly accurate readings. This was a parlor trick, not genuine paranormal power.