FIXATES Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

fixates

verb

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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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 Throughout the evacuation, Olya fixates on the fact that men aged 18 to 60 are barred from leaving, all the while wearing a ridiculous big fluffy hat that seems to protect her more from the societal meltdown around her than from the cold. — Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026 Fascinatingly, the journey of the eager-to-please author often paralleled that of the novel’s protagonist, who fixates relentlessly on how others perceive her. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026 Humphreys’ broader argument is the debate fixates on the toll itself while ignoring costs and benefits absent from any E-ZPass statement—air pollution, noise, street wear. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 8 July 2026 Today's stock-market market conversation is dominated by structural dynamics, index machinations and mechanical flows the way World Cup chatter fixates on officiating decisions and bracket construction. — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 7 July 2026 At Harvard, Jesse Eisenberg’s Mark Zuckerberg fixates on the exclusive final clubs that won’t quite accept him. — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixates

Verb

An investor gazes at a share price board showing various stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on August 25, 2015.

— Justina Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Yan gazes intently at how the colors reflect against Pascoal’s skin, eyes and hair.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of gazes

Verb

Lux is drawn back to the old pictures and voice notes on his phone, while Mille stares at the WhatsApp chat with her sister as if waiting for a response.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
When Molly holds out her empty hand, Yvette stares at it, then shoves her dustpan under one arm, laces her fingers through Molly’s.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of stares

Verb

Swift is expected to plunge back through Earth’s atmosphere by year’s end, as solar storms drag its orbit lower, while Katalyst eyes future rescue attempts for other telescopes such as Hubble.

— Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The film will enter production this November in Vermont as production company GrizzlieBradFilms LLC eyes a 2028 debut.

— Mya Copeland, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of eyes

Verb

Eric Virey, principal displays analyst at Yole Intelligence, considers FALD a hardware feature first and foremost.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026
That has left the kingdom searching for friends beyond Washington, for allies ready to put rockets where the rhetoric is and assist in a fight Saudi Arabia considers existential.

— Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of considers

Verb

But, as Zirin observes, Zinn’s version of the American story was far from universally acclaimed.

— Barbara Spindel, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Oct. 2026
As coach and consultant Deborah Grayson Riegel observes on the Harvard Business Review podcast, effective delegation is associated with greater productivity.

— Carol Geffner, Forbes.com, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of observes

Verb

The music is used in a scene where Alex watches his brother fight while the cartoon score plays, syncing humorously with the action.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
Nobody else who works on (or watches) these films ever thinks about the people who live in these locations for the rest of the year.

— Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of watches

Verb

Time blinks by Kathy Vigiano measures time by how much her youngest son, John, has grown since her husband, NYPD Detective Joseph Vigiano, was killed in the 9/11 terror attacks.

— Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026
Order eggs Benedict topped with two generous heaps of caviar and no one blinks.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of blinks

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“Fixates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixates. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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verb

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