fixates

present tense third-person singular of fixate
as in gazes
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 fixates The video shows Zarutska sit in a seat in front of Brown, who fixates on her and after several minutes pulls out a knife and stabs her several times in the neck, The Charlotte Observer previously reported. Danielle Battaglia, Charlotte Observer, 8 Sep. 2025 During a hospital stay, Roy’s enfeebled mother fixates on the caste and religious affiliations of the doctors treating her—the sort of thing that will be familiar to anyone who has cringed at a diminished elder’s unfiltered prejudices. Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025 Nobody knows why this man is laughing or crying, while Mariano fixates on the man’s single floating tear, lovely and precise, its purpose and origin a mystery. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixates
Verb
  • Four of the men look at the camera, one gazes at the distant beach, another scratches his head, and the last, the uber-famous Frank Gehry, studies the sand at his feet.
    R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Their gazes lock for what seems like an eternity until Conrad breaks the moment, asking for help to stand.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • In the picture, Duggar holds her son, who wears a gray onesie and stares into the camera.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Thus, Botticelli’s Jesus, who stares at the fruit in deep thought, perhaps prophesies his own death and return, as opposed to the child in the Dreyfus Madonna, who proudly shows the unity of his church to his mother.
    Demir Alp, JSTOR Daily, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The 90/10 skew is designed to reflect what Morningstar considers the modern asset universe, which is one where opportunities are expanding in the private markets and companies such as OpenAI and Stripe are able to stay private for longer.
    Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Meanwhile, tax framework complexity considers aspects of how the tax laws are being enforced, such as tax law enactment, tax guidance, tax payment and filing systems, tax audits, and how corporations can appeal tax decisions.
    Nathan Goldman, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Salemi observes that employees in this type of organizational culture often (but not always) feel very loyal.
    Julia Sullivan, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025
  • The most common heat symptoms Magloire observes in her patients are lower abdominal pressure, back pain and, like Christina Duarte experienced, cramping.
    Jessica Meszaros, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Rafael Nadal, who retired last year, wore multiple $1 million Richard Mille watches during his time in the sport.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Wide receiver Xavier Worthy #1 of the Kansas City Chiefs watches from the sidelines during the second quarter of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 09, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The button is surrounded by an LED that blinks to warn you if the door is unlocked.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
  • The camera never blinks as Ye speaks candidly about living with bipolar disorder, offering rare insight into the realities of mental illness and its impact on identity, perception, and power.
    Matthew Carey, Deadline, 13 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But Timothy regards what happened as a toxic betrayal.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 28 Aug. 2025
  • The North Korean leadership regards such dependence as burdensome, especially regarding China.
    Andrei Lankov, Time, 21 Aug. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Fixates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixates. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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