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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Fils-Aimé told the Miami Herald that his discussions focused primarily on the deployment of the GSF and the upcoming renewal of its mandate in September.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
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Both Burnham and Kenyon declined to speak with CNN, saying they were focused on talking directly to constituents rather than the media.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Verb
-
When coal burns, those valuable elements get left behind in the ash, concentrated and waiting.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
11 June 2026
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The internal State Department memo also notes the US government’s move to fund as many as 50 Ebola treatment centers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda, where the outbreak is concentrated.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riveted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveted. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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