as in stabbed
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
transfixed the inanimate butterfly specimens to the collection board
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Recent Examples of transfixed
By the 33rd time, you’re transfixed.
—
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the age of silent movies, filmmakers have been transfixed by the idea of blasting off from our home planet to explore the moon.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Although organizers have kept much of the exhibition under wraps, visitors can expect to be transfixed by a thoroughly Los Angeles tale.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Afterward, in a somber postgame locker room, Kelce stared down at his fingertips while resting his elbows on his knees, remaining transfixed for a few minutes while still in full uniform.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Mainly male, all transfixed by what was taking place on the turf.
—Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Stepping into the Keijsers Koning gallery, a visitor is immediately transfixed by a score of unblinking eyes.
—Benjamin Lima, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The idea that animals became transfixed by Francis’ preaching was reiterated in other devotional texts.
—Vanessa Corcoran, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Directed by two-time Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold, the play revisits the true story of a Brooklyn bank robbery that spiraled out of control and transfixed the nation.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Lydia Wei, Pitchfork, 31 Mar. 2026
Since the age of silent movies, filmmakers have been transfixed by the idea of blasting off from our home planet to explore the moon.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Although organizers have kept much of the exhibition under wraps, visitors can expect to be transfixed by a thoroughly Los Angeles tale.
—Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2026
Afterward, in a somber postgame locker room, Kelce stared down at his fingertips while resting his elbows on his knees, remaining transfixed for a few minutes while still in full uniform.
—Jesse Newell, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Mainly male, all transfixed by what was taking place on the turf.
—Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 17 Feb. 2026
Stepping into the Keijsers Koning gallery, a visitor is immediately transfixed by a score of unblinking eyes.
—Benjamin Lima, Dallas Morning News, 5 Feb. 2026
The idea that animals became transfixed by Francis’ preaching was reiterated in other devotional texts.
—Vanessa Corcoran, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Directed by two-time Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold, the play revisits the true story of a Brooklyn bank robbery that spiraled out of control and transfixed the nation.
—Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transfixed
Verb
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Initial reports indicated that the teenager had been stabbed during a fight near Bess Race Elementary School and had non-life threatening injuries.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Apr. 2026
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Roughly four minutes later, Brown allegedly pulled a knife from his pocket and stabbed her three times from behind before departing the train.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The bullet pierced the 49-year-old guard’s spine, according to prosecutors, who said the victim endured seven hours of surgery and may be paralyzed.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Large pieces of timber pierced the cab of the victim's truck, as well as the trailer and cargo within the trailer, causing some hazardous material to spill onto the roadway, the sheriff's office said.—
April 3,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At this time, the kernels are tender, fully developed, and produce a milky, sweet liquid when punctured.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The attack had punctured an air of invulnerability created by the 1967 Six-Day War, in which Israel had swiftly captured the Golan Heights, the Sinai Peninsula, the West Bank, and Gaza from its Arab neighbors.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Homeowners across Central Florida have been frustrated to find their piles of dead leaves, branches and plants — victims of February’s hard freeze — still sitting on their curbs because waste haulers haven’t picked it up on time.—
Ryan Gillespie,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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For every scene, participants picked one robot from a lineup of six that differed only in color—there were four skin tones ranging from light to dark, plus a silver and a teal option meant as nonracial baselines.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The boxers, aged 40 and 42 respectively, threw hopeful knockout punches and barely jabbed.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The casting director playfully jabbed Anderson in her acceptance speech, referencing the filmmaker's 14 career Oscar nominations without a victory.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That mindset, which teachers would sometimes unwittingly perpetuate, was keeping kids stuck.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
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This helps avoid the common problem of getting stuck in the pilot phase, a challenge facing many companies, a recent report by Deloitte found.—
Francesca Cassidy,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Transfixed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transfixed. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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