fixate

Definition of fixatenext
as in to gaze
to look at or think about something constantly; to give all of your attention to something
usually + on or upon
The cat was fixated on a small hole in the wall. Why do journalists fixate on scandals?

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fixate But with so much to be gained from a higher Premier League finish, Howe cannot simply fixate upon downing Barcelona when the odds are against Newcastle. Chris Waugh, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026 Junior 140-pounder Jackie Martinez, one of her teammates, described Garbacz as unselfish and giving and never one to gloat or fixate on herself. Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 12 Mar. 2026 He’s haunted by the specter of aging — apparent in Styles’s fixating on wellness in interviews and roasting his own hairline on Brittany Broski’s Royal Court — and has hinted at private anguish over the death of One Direction’s Liam Payne. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026 And the case of the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mom, Nancy, has been one of the things the collective internet has fixated on for the last month or so. Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fixate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixate
Verb
  • Rubin-Vega gazed toward the under-stairs entrance to her former apartment.
    Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Crevette answers all your seafood desires, while other options include crepes and waffles, beers and glasses of wine, ideally consumed gazing over the sunset.
    Maddy Odom, Travel + Leisure, 18 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Two pairs of staring eyes, in intimate contact.
    John McPhee, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Since the discovery of the bacterial flagellar motor in the 1970s, biologists and creationists alike have marveled at its design like medieval architects staring with awe at the dome of the Pantheon built by their Roman ancestors.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Its leaders have eyed the narrow waterways like the Strait of Malacca through which this fuel flows as potential chokepoints if a future adversary wanted to strangle Beijing’s supply.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2026
  • And that's especially true for travelers eyeing the dreamy beaches of Sint Maarten.
    Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • After discovering that the infantry is mounting an attack on Southern forces, Henry considers the chance to clear his name and finally fight for his country.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Apr. 2026
  • Back in Illinois, state lawmakers are considering a gun bill that would require pistol manufacturers to redesign models that can easily be turned into automatic weapons.
    Grace Miserocchi, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The heartbroken mother of a 15-year-old boy who was beaten and fatally shot inside a Queens park as dozens of teens callously filmed the slaying on their phones condemned his killer — and those who did nothing but watch him die.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Race officials watched the first 10 women cross the finish line, but data from chips in the bibs indicated two other women also had crossed, although they were not observed by the officials.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Millions attended these exhibits and then went home to gawk at the vehicles at their local store.
    Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Onlookers gawked from the balconies of nearby condo towers.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Several houses were damaged in Rochester, Minnesota, after a tornado was observed in the area on April 17, 2026.
    Conor Wight, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Festival-goers can observe the bees that make the honey sold at Hidden Oaks, shop at green vendors, view musical instruments and listen to music.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That was the question swirling around social media after some comments were left on the Downtown Stockton Alliance Facebook page regarding the community ambassador program.
    Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
  • Lawson’s experienced, well-regarded and has played a lot of important football.
    Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixate. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.

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