as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
transfixed the inanimate butterfly specimens to the collection board
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 transfixed
To no one’s surprise, Bonnie is immediately transfixed by her Lilypad (voiced by Greta Lee, whose arrogant smarm effectively threads the needle between Maya Hawke’s Anxiety and Regina George’s everything else).
—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
But his case has transfixed Norway due to his ties to the heir to the throne.
—
Gwladys Fouche,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
The basketball community has been transfixed by this year’s unpredictable NBA Finals between San Antonio and New York.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 June 2026
But Johnson said that didn’t mean he wasn’t transfixed by Wednesday night’s dramatic NBA Finals comeback by the Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Artists such as Chandler Walters, Noeline Hofmann, Gareth and Caylee Hammack also had listeners transfixed at their respective sets throughout Saturday afternoon in Music City.
—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Lovelace O’Neal was transfixed by the idea of how much water the massive creatures would displace when engaging in intercourse.
—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 May 2026
Sometimes, the frame is transfixed by haunting, practically subliminal changes fomenting on a subconscious level, as Dua is shaken from within, and the remarkable Matoshi doles out nuggets of recognizable emotion from beneath her rock-hard exterior.
—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Become transfixed by the classical music of renowned Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin during the Chopin Concerts from May to September.
—
Kasia Dietz,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
16 June 2026
But his case has transfixed Norway due to his ties to the heir to the throne.
—
Gwladys Fouche,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
The basketball community has been transfixed by this year’s unpredictable NBA Finals between San Antonio and New York.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
12 June 2026
But Johnson said that didn’t mean he wasn’t transfixed by Wednesday night’s dramatic NBA Finals comeback by the Knicks against the San Antonio Spurs.
—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 June 2026
Artists such as Chandler Walters, Noeline Hofmann, Gareth and Caylee Hammack also had listeners transfixed at their respective sets throughout Saturday afternoon in Music City.
—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
Lovelace O’Neal was transfixed by the idea of how much water the massive creatures would displace when engaging in intercourse.
—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 May 2026
Sometimes, the frame is transfixed by haunting, practically subliminal changes fomenting on a subconscious level, as Dua is shaken from within, and the remarkable Matoshi doles out nuggets of recognizable emotion from beneath her rock-hard exterior.
—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Become transfixed by the classical music of renowned Polish composer Fryderyk Chopin during the Chopin Concerts from May to September.
—
Kasia Dietz,
Travel + Leisure,
13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transfixed
Verb
-
Aemond kills the old man anyway, and then kills his sons, though not before being stabbed in the back himself.
-
When Chox Choc’s uncle tried to intervene, the teen stabbed him in the heart as well, the prosecutor said.
Verb
-
First responders found the woman conscious and alert after an umbrella stake pierced her shoulder.
-
Because of the bullets that pierced his mother, he was deprived of blood and oxygen for critical minutes just prior to his birth.
Verb
-
Watt had his lung punctured by the medical staff last season and will turn 32 in October.
-
But there were also perplexing moments that punctured the gravitas of the event (even for an event built around hand-to-hand combat).
Verb
-
Johnson was the first player picked by new Mavericks team president Masai Ujiri.
-
In Wheeler’s recent story paneling a dozen scouts anonymously on draft prospects, not one picked Verhoeff as the best in the defense class.
Verb
-
And now, 44 years on, new generations of Villa fans could also cherish the moment when Buendia’s cross was jabbed in from close range by Morgan Rogers for the third, ensuring every Brummie in Istanbul could relax and soak in the game’s final 30 minutes.
-
The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed.
Verb
-
Maxxine battled back, but Raquel caught a spinning kick attempt and stuck Maxxine with a Tejana Bomb for the win.
-
Mangione briefly stuck in elevator Court began slightly later than usual Monday morning because Mangione got stuck in an elevator while trying to get to court.
Cite this Entry
“Transfixed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transfixed. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
