as in staring
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 fixating
Oral care has focused almost entirely on fluoride for decades, Hoss said, but fixating on any single ingredient misses the real drivers of oral health.
—
Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
And one detail everyone is fixating on is Brooklyn Beckham’s claim that his mom, Victoria Beckham, danced inappropriately with him during his wedding to Nicola Peltz.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 22 Jan. 2026
The benefit only kicks in when sensitivity is accompanied by the capacity for processing and moving on without fixating on the information.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Many New Year’s resolutions fail not because people lack motivation, but because fixating on a goal can initiate a self-defeating cycle of avoidance.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Your task in 2026 is to stop fixating on how money will come and start embodying the version of yourself who already has it.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
The boy grew restless during the screening, instead fixating on topics like his drawing skills or the lack of toys in the facility, according to his parents.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2025
Rather than remaining solely fixating on loafers, the releases are evolving with mash-up models like mary jane sneakers and Kith’s fusion of the Clarks Wallabee with Adidas technology.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 16 Dec. 2025
Parasocially fixating on microcelebrities who want their money.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
And one detail everyone is fixating on is Brooklyn Beckham’s claim that his mom, Victoria Beckham, danced inappropriately with him during his wedding to Nicola Peltz.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 22 Jan. 2026
The benefit only kicks in when sensitivity is accompanied by the capacity for processing and moving on without fixating on the information.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 17 Jan. 2026
Many New Year’s resolutions fail not because people lack motivation, but because fixating on a goal can initiate a self-defeating cycle of avoidance.
—Richard A. Friedman, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2026
Your task in 2026 is to stop fixating on how money will come and start embodying the version of yourself who already has it.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025
The boy grew restless during the screening, instead fixating on topics like his drawing skills or the lack of toys in the facility, according to his parents.
—Rachel Wegner, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Dec. 2025
Rather than remaining solely fixating on loafers, the releases are evolving with mash-up models like mary jane sneakers and Kith’s fusion of the Clarks Wallabee with Adidas technology.
—Riley Jones, Footwear News, 16 Dec. 2025
Parasocially fixating on microcelebrities who want their money.
—Daniel Kolitz, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixating
Verb
-
Saxon sat at the plaintiff’s table, staring at a screen with no expression.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
6 Mar. 2026
-
After eight hours at work, staring at spreadsheets and sitting through meetings that should've been emails, my brain needs a complete reset.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The images, which were taken in 2008 in Cape Town, South Africa, show Dion lounging on her back, gazing off into the distance, and enjoying the sun.—
Juliana Ukiomogbe,
InStyle,
5 Mar. 2026
-
And after a long day of trekking, there’s nothing so restorative as a dip in the opulent bathtub, fringed by bricks of pink salt from Pakistan, while gazing out at the Nilgiri glowing ethereally in the dusk.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
On a typical day, the Southwest Wildlife Conservation Center in Scottsdale reverberates with animal cries and the footfalls of gawking visitors.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Armed soldiers patrolled in droves, spreading hate and fear everywhere, blindfolding children, pointing guns, gawking, spitting, laughing at us like animals in the zoo.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Outside of ChiArts, two students leaned outside of the building’s second-floor windows, peering down towards the crowd gathering below.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Last year, the United Kingdom’s national meteorological service tasked ACE2 with peering one full season into the future.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And second, there’s the audience’s uncomfortable tingle of recognition watching Vladimir Putin’s tightening stranglehold on the Russian press.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
March is prime whale-watching season in Samaná.—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Quentin Tarantino‘s debut play is eyeing an early 2027 London launch, potentially in the West End.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Despite Philly eyeing a move up the East’s playoff standings, the Hawks were better in the minutes that mattered down the stretch.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But at the end of meteorological winter, which ran from December through February, few observing stations in the East had recorded a record-breaking cold winter, while dozens in the West and Southwest saw their warmest.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
-
After observing Choe Hyon's sea trials on Tuesday, Kim said the ship met operational requirements and called it a symbol of the country's expanding naval capabilities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If the San Diego County Water Authority eventually reaches deals with other agencies, the amount of water sold will be small compared to the gaping water shortfall that is pushing reservoir levels lower along the Colorado River.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Texas’ best player Dailyn Swain pulled down 11 rebounds, but was saddled with foul trouble as well and didn’t score in the second half, leaving a gaping hole in the scoring department.—
Cedric Golden,
Austin American Statesman,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fixating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixating. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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