fixate

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 Non-Orientable Nkansa, 2017, one of his earliest large-scale installations, announced his dedication to monumental assemblages that fixate on negligence and crumbling edifices. Edna Bonhomme, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2025 And Joan, fixated on Amy’s unique abilities as a physician — wanted her focus to be there. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2025 Just as Marxists fixate on economics, modern TV writers tend to obsess over interpersonal relationships and psychology. Will Collins, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025 Threat hunts often risk tunnel vision — fixating on a single artifact or path. Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fixate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixate
Verb
  • Lina gazes past the snow, into the darkness under the trees.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 8 Oct. 2025
  • But someday, this fancy bicycle will also exist as a relic of a bygone era, stored away in a basement, inspiring wonder and awe from those who gaze at its out-of-date technology.
    Frederick Dreier, Outside, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In today's world, many people spend hours staring at computer screens, scrolling on their phones, and sitting in front of TVs to relax and decompress.
    Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2025
  • Cats may stare at a certain spot in the room, or walk in to the room and start hissing for no apparent reason.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Investors are eyeing a stock market rebound after Friday’s trade war flare-up sent the S&P 500 to its worst loss since April.
    Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2025
  • If the Phillies end up losing Schwarber to free agency, bringing in an All-Star like Tucker long term would be a great addition as the team eyes a return to the playoffs next season.
    Shaun McAvoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bendicksen, the center’s director of wildlife rehabilitation, decided to attempt something few would consider, a wing transplant.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Even though there is risk that would come with the move, the Saints should consider it if the option presents itself.
    Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Go birding at River Commons Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will host a morning of bird watching Wednesday at River Commons, a 100-acre tract administered by the Watershed Conservation Resource Center.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Subscribers can also watch on Prime Video or through Amazon Live, which is available on desktop, the Amazon Shopping app and the Amazon Live channel within the Prime Video app.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In Park Slope, on 9th Street just past Eighth Avenue, the crowds flowing out of Prospect Park sometimes stop to gawk at a row of oddly whimsical townhouses.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 7 Oct. 2025
  • While there's plenty to gawk at on-screen, the movie's greatest legacy might be its ridiculously quotable dialogue.
    Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The flood threat will climb even higher to above 8 feet Monday, which would be the highest level observed since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
    Dakin Andone, CNN Money, 12 Oct. 2025
  • This discovery also suggests that astronomical events were observed by people outside of the elite class and state control.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On May 14, 2024, Gatlin sent a personal email to 100 Black Men of America regarding its annual conference the following month in Atlanta.
    Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2025
  • Once all other explanations had been ruled out—except for a Vitamin D deficiency, our daughter seemed perfectly healthy, and her fracture would heal with time—we were left with a different sort of fear, regarding the care of our children by others.
    Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixate. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fixate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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