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
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
The Bravo community is riveted by the latest scandal, which partly stems from Batula announcing her separation from Cooke in January.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Its handles stay cool for safe handling and are double-riveted for durability.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
National attention shifted long ago, riveted by political rivalries, corruption scandals, and acrimonious elections.
—Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Cummins was in the moment, time suspended, her focus riveted on her students.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Grace detailed her thoughts about the case that has riveted Americans as part of her opening keynote conversation Friday at Variety’s inaugural True Crime Summit at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
And for a few hours on a Sunday morning at least, on a February day without the NFL or the NBA All-Star Game or the Daytona 500, this likeable group of American hockey players riveted a nation, and maybe even united the country.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Feb. 2026
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
The Bravo community is riveted by the latest scandal, which partly stems from Batula announcing her separation from Cooke in January.
—Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
Its handles stay cool for safe handling and are double-riveted for durability.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
National attention shifted long ago, riveted by political rivalries, corruption scandals, and acrimonious elections.
—Brendan King, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Cummins was in the moment, time suspended, her focus riveted on her students.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Grace detailed her thoughts about the case that has riveted Americans as part of her opening keynote conversation Friday at Variety’s inaugural True Crime Summit at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Mar. 2026
And for a few hours on a Sunday morning at least, on a February day without the NFL or the NBA All-Star Game or the Daytona 500, this likeable group of American hockey players riveted a nation, and maybe even united the country.
—Sean Gregory, Time, 22 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveted
Verb
-
The Star also offers a newsletter focused on Lee’s Summit news.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
8 Apr. 2026
-
One moment that stuck with her involved a student who asked to do a senior project with Martin focused on domestic violence.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hungary lives in the countryside—only eight cities have a population exceeding a hundred thousand people—and that is where Magyar concentrated his attention.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Much of Colorado’s growth is now concentrated in a belt of counties stretching from Weld down to Elbert and El Paso counties, temporarily bypassing Arapahoe, which had the state’s biggest population loss in raw numbers.—
Aldo Svaldi,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riveted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveted. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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