fixated 1 of 2

Definition of fixatednext

fixated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of fixate
as in stared
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

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 fixated
Adjective
Kirk was fixated on the economic woes of young people. Eliza Griswold, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 Democrats have tried to turn the ballroom into a campaign issue in the 2026 midterm elections, arguing Trump is fixated on a vanity project while Americans struggle with high prices. Joey Garrison, USA Today, 16 June 2026
Verb
For weeks, the media has been fixated on whether a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, which killed three people, could lead to the next pandemic. Leana S. Wen, Washington Post, 18 May 2026 His older brother was a fan of their newer work, but Sandoval quickly fixated on the band’s 1960s catalog, especially their 1968 masterpiece The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for fixated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixated
Adjective
  • Dahlias are flowers people become obsessed with.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 June 2026
  • On Friday night, an obsessed fan shot and killed pop singer Christina Grimmie in Orlando’s landmark Plaza theater.
    Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Greenberg tried his best to ignore an irritating ankle injury that had plagued him the last couple of weeks and grimaced under the hazy sunlight as the pitcher, probably 20 or more years his junior, stared him down.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
  • In La Guaira, Cristian Carreño stared at his charred apartment building tilting precariously to one side.
    Megan Janetsky, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026
Adjective
  • Abdul-Mateen’s performance is perpetually glum, but insufficiently monomaniacal, lowering the stakes throughout.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Paul Atreides in Dune, Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown, Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme — these are all characters defined by otherworldly gifts, monomaniacal drive, and a cold-blooded disregard for the concerns of others.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Near 18th and Grand on the second double-decker Orange Bus during the mind-boggling Oranje Fanwalk on Thursday, KC2026 CEO Pam Kramer gazed back — and realized there somehow were as many people behind them as before them.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026
  • En route from the airport, his mother gazed out of the window, apparently rapt by these strange surroundings.
    The Week UK, TheWeek, 20 June 2026
Adjective
  • Some big rubber balls had been tossed in to keep them distracted.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • The problem, Larson said, is that Congress was highly distracted at the time with passing the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Several Republican lawmakers whose districts were eyed as potential sites for the warehouses opposed the projects, often saying the warehouses should be used for commercial purposes not immigration detention.
    Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 June 2026
  • Olivia Cooke’s Alicent, Emma D’Arcy’s Rhaenyra, Matt Smith’s Daemon Targaryen, Steve Toussaint’s Corlys and more have are back on the small screen as King’s Landing is eyed for takeover.
    Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 24 June 2026
Adjective
  • Her son was too distraught to speak on Sunday.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 22 June 2026
  • Caitlin Clark appeared emotionally distraught during a postgame news conference after the Indiana Fever's 113-96 loss to the Atlanta Dream and archrival Angel Reese.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • The court's 6-3 ruling, issued Tuesday, June 30, ensures that children born in the country are considered Americans.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Legislators last year updated the law to clarify that even if businesses don’t communicate directly but use algorithmic pricing software that leads to them charging a common rate, that could still be considered price-fixing.
    Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fixated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixated. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fixated

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