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
This time, Kelly was the star, and my daughter was transfixed—the pronounced jaw, the twinkle in his eye.
—
Noah Galuten, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Advertisement The other players in the room look on, transfixed, some laughing at their colleague’s dazzling brilliance.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
After the game and during the team's media availability, Hart was joined by Haze, who was seemingly transfixed by Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Or if you're not transfixed by Pluribus, which sees the bulk of Earth's population forming a hive mind, there's a wealth of other content, including a surprisingly large amount of sci-fi.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 29 Nov. 2025
This has a slot machine-style effect on gamblers, who keep feeding their apps money, transfixed by each new bet.
—David French, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Some moments he was transfixed by Sendak’s illustrations, particularly one of a rabbit, under one of Jack’s spells, pummeling the nameless dog; at others by the nature of Jack’s transformation.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Every time Daniel Day-Lewis speaks, you're transfixed That’s not unlike the experience of watching the film.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Over the weekend, writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another won a partial victory in an ongoing war for audience share that has transfixed Hollywood since March.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Noah Galuten, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026
Advertisement The other players in the room look on, transfixed, some laughing at their colleague’s dazzling brilliance.
—Jordan Himelfarb, Time, 15 Dec. 2025
After the game and during the team's media availability, Hart was joined by Haze, who was seemingly transfixed by Knicks guard Jalen Brunson.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 8 Dec. 2025
Or if you're not transfixed by Pluribus, which sees the bulk of Earth's population forming a hive mind, there's a wealth of other content, including a surprisingly large amount of sci-fi.
—Chris McMullen, Space.com, 29 Nov. 2025
This has a slot machine-style effect on gamblers, who keep feeding their apps money, transfixed by each new bet.
—David French, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025
Some moments he was transfixed by Sendak’s illustrations, particularly one of a rabbit, under one of Jack’s spells, pummeling the nameless dog; at others by the nature of Jack’s transformation.
—David Wingrave, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Every time Daniel Day-Lewis speaks, you're transfixed That’s not unlike the experience of watching the film.
—Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 7 Oct. 2025
Over the weekend, writer-director Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another won a partial victory in an ongoing war for audience share that has transfixed Hollywood since March.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transfixed
Verb
-
Shot a bunch of times in the stomach, twice in the head, stabbed in the arm.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
But the couple's elderly dog was inside the apartment and was stabbed between the eyes, authorities said.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The bullet pierced Ramseur’s arm and entered his chest through his side.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
-
The steppe is sand pierced by grasses and little pale flowers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The episode has punctured Preckwinkle’s reputation for managerial skill — a primary reason this page has endorsed her in previous elections despite some disagreements with other aspects of her record.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
One of the bullets struck Boyd in the abdomen, traveled through his body, and ultimately punctured one of his lungs.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The visitors picked their way across the rocky coastline, waving at the Islanders to move back and make space.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
McKinsey found that disciplined prioritization delivers 40% more value—not because leaders picked better priorities, but because the organization had room to absorb them.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
An agent in Massachusetts jabbed his finger and thumb into the neck and arteries of a young father who refused to be separated from his wife and 1-year-old daughter.—
Nicole Foy,
ProPublica,
13 Jan. 2026
-
As Webster repeatedly jabbed his finger, Rathbun met it with his left hand, as if trying to swat him away.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With all this ice, barges get stuck.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Cold temperatures that stuck in Iowa for over a week will continue, but will not be as frigid, forecasts show.—
Kyle Werner,
Des Moines Register,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Transfixed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transfixed. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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