Thrall

A state of being in which a person is deeply captivated or enslaved by someone or something, often referring to a loss of autonomy or control. Historically, the term has been used to describe serfs or slaves, but it is also commonly applied to situations where individuals are powerfully influenced or dominated by their passions, ideas, or external forces. A person in thrall may find themselves unable to act freely due to this overpowering attachment.

Thrall meaning with examples

• In the world of literature, she was in thrall to the written word, spending countless hours absorbed in the pages of novels that whisked her away to distant lands. Each story drew her deeper into its intricate plots and vivid characters, making her forget the passage of time. Her friends often marveled at her devotion to reading, as she could hardly be found without a book in hand, completely entranced by the possibilities that words could provide.
• The speaker held the audience in thrall, his charismatic delivery and compelling storytelling weaving a spell that captivated everyone present. As he spoke about his adventures around the globe, listeners could almost feel the thrill of the experiences he described. They hung on his every word, momentarily forgetting the mundane realities of their lives, wishing only to join him on his exciting excursions into the unknown.
• After years of obsession with collecting vintage records, he found himself in thrall to the music of a bygone era. The intricate melodies and profound lyrics resonated with him deeply, and he spent every spare moment scouring thrift shops and estate sales for rare finds. His friends began to notice how the music transformed his mood, as he danced and hummed around the house, completely immersed in the rhythms of the past.
• The young artist was in thrall to her muse, allowing herself to be swept away in a whirlwind of creativity. Every brushstroke on the canvas felt like a manifestation of her emotions, enabling her to express her inner world through vibrant colors and forms. She often found herself working late into the night, spellbound by the imagery that flowed from her mind, each piece telling a story only she could fully understand.