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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Recent Examples of fixates
But what one fixates on here is how the two men flanking the woman stand protectively close to her.
—
Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
And interminably long campaign cycles — where media coverage fixates on the horse race and almost never engages with policy — leave voters both disengaged and underinformed.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Their history adds a third layer to the depth of Lux; Hemlocke Springs similarly fixates on religious motifs on The Apple Tree Under the Sea.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026
The national debate on healthcare costs often fixates on single solutions.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Like Rear Window, Dial M for Murder fixates on the intersections between romance, paranoia, and curiosity.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
Of course, the internet fixates on the moment, with many TikTok commenters focussing on the age difference between Aaron and his step-daughters Angelica and Jessie Jopling.
—Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
When a person fixates on a target, their retina captures visual information and sends it to the brain via the optic nerve.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Annie, who was abandoned by her mother, fixates on the idea of finding her once again.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Hilton Als, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
And interminably long campaign cycles — where media coverage fixates on the horse race and almost never engages with policy — leave voters both disengaged and underinformed.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 28 May 2026
Their history adds a third layer to the depth of Lux; Hemlocke Springs similarly fixates on religious motifs on The Apple Tree Under the Sea.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026
The national debate on healthcare costs often fixates on single solutions.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 17 Apr. 2026
Like Rear Window, Dial M for Murder fixates on the intersections between romance, paranoia, and curiosity.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Apr. 2026
Of course, the internet fixates on the moment, with many TikTok commenters focussing on the age difference between Aaron and his step-daughters Angelica and Jessie Jopling.
—Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
When a person fixates on a target, their retina captures visual information and sends it to the brain via the optic nerve.
—Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
Annie, who was abandoned by her mother, fixates on the idea of finding her once again.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixates
Verb
-
One character gazes out and tries to make a decision.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
-
And Sylvie, who still gazes with utmost tenderness at a black-and-white photograph, taken during her time abroad, of a nameless wailing Russian child, has permanently abandoned her own daughter by refusing to visit her.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
There are countless points during Body of Work, the new hour-long behemoth from Edward Skeletrix, where the multi-hyphenate artist stares dead into the proverbial camera.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
15 May 2026
-
But less than three minutes into the conversation, Earl leaps off Maslany’s lap, freezes in place and stares ahead.—
Senior Television,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
In the Africa section, the zoo eyes a revamp of the hippo and crocodile habitats and at least one additional exhibit.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
30 May 2026
-
The New York Knicks took a commanding 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday as the franchise eyes its first NBA Finals berth since 1999.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Rehmeier, who’s already shot an unannounced third film with Gallner, considers his performance in the nearly unanimously praised Caroline to be reminiscent of Paul Newman or Steve McQueen.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
-
Ed Simon considers Allen Ginsberg on his 100th birthday.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
As a horrified Sam inadvertently observes, a creature has been sating itself on his buddy’s brain.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
31 May 2026
-
As Kubiak stands stoic and observes, Janocko is active and outspoken with players before and after reps.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Top talent watches whether your values show up in the moments that actually cost something.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Not just someone who’s there, who’s a bystander, and who just watches things happen.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Straitjacketed inside the inescapable present, Pearl gapes up to discover that her husband, Walker, has found her; Walker was always going to find her.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The mental image most people carry into a salary conversation is two people on opposite sides of a table, locked in a staring contest until one person blinks.—
Kwame Christian Esq,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
An engineer by training, Massie designed several patents — some on display in his office — as well as a debt calculator that blinks in flashing red numerals as the nation’s deficits pile up.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fixates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixates. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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