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?

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 For more advice on how to stop fixating on your body image, listen to this episode of NPR's Life Kit. Brittney Melton, NPR, 1 Sep. 2026 That's worth sitting with because the entire public conversation about government AI is fixated on which model is smartest, fastest or cheapest this quarter. Nick Herbert, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The ear popping and discomfort caused by changing cabin pressure may be completely normal, but knowing that doesn’t necessarily stop you from fixating on it. Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026 Meyer makes space to laugh, look around, and fixate on the wrong object. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fixate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixate
Verb
  • Margaret Keane’s big-eyed children gaze unabashedly at a girl sketched by Pablo Picasso, and cartoonist Rose O’Neill rubs elbows with Vincent van Gogh.
    Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • For example, some sculptures establish sight lines while gazing toward other sculptures—a bronze representation of the messenger god Mercury in the Carter Collection room stares beyond its space to the Bateman Mercury, ca.
    George Baker, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Bereaved mother Debra Robinson stared at the accused before bursting into tears in the courtroom.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Once there, staring at the devastation, there was no denying the reality of death.
    Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Trump also plans to build a triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and is eyeing a golf course renovation along the Potomac River.
    MATTHEW DALY, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Ever since the outbreak of war with Iran earlier this year, motorists have been warily eyeing prices at the pump.
    Kevin Williams, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • If Caballero continues struggling, the Yankees have to at least consider whether Volpe can fill a utility role.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • And considering power, price, and popularity, the PlayStation 5 (whether base, all-digital, or Pro) is the best option for most gamers.
    Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Weekend votes This weekend, there are two key political moments for investors to watch.
    Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The experience of watching the film was ambiently excruciating, like twiddling your thumbs at a bus stop on a humid day.
    Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Such an approach runs the risk of gawking at an unfamiliar people, their hegemonies and their ways of life, even with the best intentions.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The Milwaukee, Wisconsin, site offers visitors a chance to gawk at a vast array of the figurines as well as learn more about their history, and offers bobbleheads for sale.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Goedert said Hurts killed the play late in the play clock, a testament to what Hurts observed before the snap that echoed part of his Saturday conversation with Brady.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Working closely with its wholesale technology team, Arc’teryx refined its order workflows, gathered feedback directly from dealers and observed the buying process to understand where retailers were encountering obstacles.
    Advertorial, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Thaci was on trial with three other former KLA leaders who fought Serb forces in the 1998-99 war and are widely regarded as national heroes in Kosovo.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Posing for the sports trading app Novig, Sweeney has stirred a debate regarding oversexualization in the world of advertising.
    Theara Coleman, TheWeek, 16 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixate. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster