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🎩 A mind magician 🧠 A telepath 💻 A brain scanner
thought-reader

thought-reader

9.1
A magician who seems to know what people think by using tricks
  • noun
  • /θɔtˈridər/
: lector de pensamientos
  • The thought-reader amazed the audience by revealing private details about volunteers.

Examples

  • After the show, the thought-reader refused to reveal how he performed his tricks.

  • During the festival, the thought-reader demonstrated his skills by seemingly predicting the choices of audience members.

  • Many people were skeptical, suspecting that the thought-reader had assistance from someone in the crowd.

  • The thought-reader amazed the audience with his tricks.

  • Have you ever seen a thought-reader perform live?

  • The thought-reader captivated the crowd by accurately guessing their hidden fears and desires.

  • Everyone was left in awe as the thought-reader revealed secrets that only the participants knew.

Synonyms

psychic
vsthought-reader
149 7.3

A person who says they can know things beyond normal senses, like predicting the future

is an entertainer who uses tricks to seem to know thoughts not real powers
telepath
vsthought-reader
53 8.9

A person who can read and send thoughts without speaking

is a performer who imitates that ability using tricks and subtle signals
mind reader
vsthought-reader
25 6.3

A person who seems to know what other people are thinking, often using tricks or guessing

is a performer who deliberately stages acts to seem to know others' thoughts
telepathist
vsthought-reader
9.9

A performer who pretends to read minds by using secret signals from an accomplice

is a magician who relies on general stage trickery rather than real powers
mental telepathist
vsthought-reader
9.9

A person who says they can share thoughts without using the senses

is a performer who imitates such claimed communication with sleight and cues

Surface Forms

thought-reader singular
thought-readers plural

Morphology

thought-reader = thought + reader (transparent) = thought + reader

The compound means literally 'a person who reads thoughts', so a B1 learner knowing the parts can infer the meaning even if they may not know the magician nuance.

Etymology

Thought-reader is a simple mix of thought ('an idea in your mind') and reader ('someone who reads'), so it gives the image of a person who seems to 'read' other people's ideas. That's why the word fits magicians who use tricks and signs to appear to know your thoughts.