as in focused
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage
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Recent Examples of riveted
The decision marks the latest twist in the sprawling Murdaugh saga that has riveted the public and spawned true crime documentaries, podcasts and best-selling books.
—
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
The story of the Murdaugh family has riveted people far beyond South Carolina Lowcountry.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Fifty years ago audiences were riveted by that thriller that focused on two relentless newsmen, played by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, who were digging into the seedy mysteries of the Watergate scandal.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 7 May 2026
On a tour of the ship’s engine room, he was riveted by a mechanism automatically recording the movements of the ship’s propeller.
—Alison J. Stein, thehustle.co, 1 May 2026
The end of the murder prosecution is just the latest turn in a case that riveted the Grand Junction community and was controversial from the start.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
But we've all been riveted by a much broader look at the Earth over the past week, literally and figuratively.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Indeed, the first moon landing and the heroic return of Apollo 13 riveted people across the globe.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The trial The trial began in September 2024 and riveted the country.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
The story of the Murdaugh family has riveted people far beyond South Carolina Lowcountry.
—Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 13 May 2026
Fifty years ago audiences were riveted by that thriller that focused on two relentless newsmen, played by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, who were digging into the seedy mysteries of the Watergate scandal.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 7 May 2026
On a tour of the ship’s engine room, he was riveted by a mechanism automatically recording the movements of the ship’s propeller.
—Alison J. Stein, thehustle.co, 1 May 2026
The end of the murder prosecution is just the latest turn in a case that riveted the Grand Junction community and was controversial from the start.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2026
But we've all been riveted by a much broader look at the Earth over the past week, literally and figuratively.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
Indeed, the first moon landing and the heroic return of Apollo 13 riveted people across the globe.
—Michael Peregrine, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
The trial The trial began in September 2024 and riveted the country.
—Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveted
Verb
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Food and drink The culinary strategy is focused on hyperlocal ingredients and sustainability.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
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McCarthy hasn't acted much since The Wire ended, as he's been focused on his filmmaking.—
Derek Lawrence,
Entertainment Weekly,
2 June 2026
Verb
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While much of those gains are concentrated in a few select sectors like health care, those two reports prompted some cautious optimism about hiring picking back up in 2026.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
28 May 2026
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The data also reveal how tightly this contamination is concentrated around Kantamanto, pinpointing the market as the epicenter.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riveted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveted. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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