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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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 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

The man steps outside onto a balcony and gazes up at the moon.

— Vulture Editors, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of gazes

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

That pragmatism also extends to sustainability, which Park considers integral to the creative process rather than a separate exercise.

— Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026
And expect a fight over whether to reauthorize user fees that fund roughly half the FDA — legislation that pharma considers must-pass and that Sanders has opposed for decades.

— David Lim, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of considers

Verb

Their quest leads to Berkeley, where the PSA trio observes a gathering of the milquetoast organization Research on Artificial Intelligence for Machines.

— Noel Murray, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2026
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Elias Law Group are on the ground while Colom’s campaign observes the count across the state, according to a person familiar with the effort.

— Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of observes

Verb

As the nation watches to see how the elections unfold on Tuesday night, election experts advise voters against listening to politicians who cry foul without offering evidence of fraud as ballots are being cast or counted.

— Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026
Try doing it in 15 districts with Washington cutting your funding while the whole country watches.

— Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of watches

Verb

With no easy answers to fill the budget gap in reach, whoever blinks first will likely have to propose some combination of new taxes, fees and government service cuts — a potentially toxic move in an election year, even if a necessary one.

— Jake Sheridan, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
The top of the device has an 18-button keypad (0-9, Arm Stay, Arm Away, Arm Night, Police, Medical, Fire, Disarm, Cancel) and a status LED bar that blinks red when an alarm is triggered.

— John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 22 Oct. 2026