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?

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 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
  • Rosé gazes into the camera, her expression calm and professional.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
  • When Belly emerges from the bathroom in her birthday outfit, Conrad gazes at her.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • But establishing your lead funnyman as someone who just shuts up and stares blankly ahead isn’t a recipe for sustainable comedy.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 Sep. 2025
  • When Mahomes stares into the secondary, he’s greeted with congestion.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pozzo also eyes a reprise of collaborations, which over the years have seen Wolford partnering with brands such as Thierry Mugler, Jean Paul Gaultier, Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood, Missoni, Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Adidas, GCDS and Sergio Rossi, to cite a few.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 18 Sep. 2025
  • As the hotel eyes its next half century, Skaletsky sees an even bolder approach to hospitality.
    Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As the deadline approaches and ALDOT considers its next move, Shiloh residents say their homes continue to flood.
    Maia Rosenfeld, ABC News, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Unfortunately for Helsley, his Mets tenure will be on replay in the head of every general manager who even considers giving him an offer.
    Drew VonScio, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • As the shoot winds down, Köhler observes Maja and Nourou engaging in flirtatious tête-à-têtes barely hidden from view.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The novel observes that, while the revolutionary spirit of the 1960s was sabotaged by political forces, the omnipresence of mass culture, television, and passive consumption in the Reagan era would also factor heavily into the struggle of subversive political movements to endure.
    Rory Doherty, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Garner watches his anguish, with respect.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Arisu watches in horror as Ryuji takes a gun out of his pocket and points it at Usagi, who has crumbled to the ground in devastation.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In a YouTube video, the robot’s head glances around with a quizzical expression and blinks in a way that is eerily lifelike.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
  • The button is surrounded by an LED that blinks to warn you if the door is unlocked.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The weaknesses The big question in Carolina always regards the team’s high-end talent and until proven otherwise, that remains this team’s largest character flaw.
    The Athletic NHL, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The interview covered a wide range of topics – how Hamas now regards October 7, the fate of the remaining hostages in Gaza, the state of ceasefire negotiations and the future of a post-war Gaza.
    Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Fixates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixates. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fixates

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!