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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 riveted
In a world riveted by an unprecedented fossil fuel crisis, does anyone have time for a big summit on climate change?
—
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
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
Tim McDonnell,
semafor.com,
23 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveted
Verb
-
Nearly half of Gen Zers cited worries about their finances and personal well-being as deterrents from looking for jobs focused on helping others.
-
Its summer program is built as a four or five-day series, with each two-hour session focused on a theme like pastry-making or global flavors.
Verb
-
If those areas are concentrated, then a human-in-the-loop guardrail may be appropriate.
-
This year Qualcomm’s gains have lagged a general rally by chip stocks as investors concentrated on names more closely associated with spending on AI components.
Cite this Entry
“Riveted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveted. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
