fixate

Definition of fixatenext
as in to gaze
to look at or think about something constantly; to give all of your attention to something
usually + on or upon
The cat was fixated on a small hole in the wall. Why do journalists fixate on scandals?

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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 fixate Meyer makes space to laugh, look around, and fixate on the wrong object. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Aug. 2026 Having entered the business in the 1970s and shepherded clients through the post-2000 tech-wreck and then the global financial crisis, he has lately been fixated on the prospect that the secular bull market that began in 2009 is in its waning phase. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026 In the eighteenth century, while Russia fixated on conquering Eurasia, Britain developed the steam engine; in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, while Europeans fought over Africa, Americans mastered the assembly line. Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Several residents who spoke at the meetings characterized the opposition as a vocal minority of residents who have fixated on a few mostly parochial issues. John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 1 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fixate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fixate
Verb
  • An investor gazes at a share price board showing various stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo on August 25, 2015.
    Justina Lee, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The rooftop at ‘Alohilani Resort is part of the property’s fitness hub, and guests can gaze out at Waikiki Beach and feel the Pacific Ocean breeze while practicing their hitting in the batting cages.
    Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Others are stretched across agonizing stretches of silence while Barrett lets an audience stare into the darkness and imagine every horrible possibility before finally springing the trap.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Which is why her character flicks through YouTube plastic surgery videos and stares at older women on the bus, comparing her wrinkles and checking her neck for any signs of sagging.
    Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Last year, Killian was on a list with other campuses that appear to be eyed for closure.
    Austin Horn August 29, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Production is being eyed for November, filming primarily in the Tampa/Clearwater area, where the original Hooters restaurant opened in 1983.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • After Sunday’s game, manager John Schneider indicated the club was still considering all options.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Asked about the cause of the capsize, Erhurman noted the storm, but said the weather was considered suitable for travel.
    Reuters, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • To that end, here are the best rom-coms based on Shakespeare plays to watch—or rewatch—now.
    Jessica Barrett, Vogue, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If that were to happen, the SEC's next move is the one to watch.
    Trey Wallace OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • People in surrounding cars gawked, waved and, in one instance, rolled down their windows to shout something that went unheard, as Bonelli explained that the van had internal cameras that were always on but not always being watched.
    Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
  • On most days the Jewel House in the Tower of London is packed with tourists gawking at the fabled British Crown Jewels.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 17 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Psychologist Katie Witkiewitz observed in an APA Speaking of Psychology interview that people are increasingly choosing not to drink as a group, and that the communal nature of that choice carries real weight.
    Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Over the course of its five-year mission, the Roman telescope will capture images of the Milky Way, survey the entire sky and observe supernova explosions that occurred as far as 8 billion years ago.
    Josh Feldman, NBC news, 26 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Additionally, the minutes featured a notable new expression regarding the impact of artificial intelligence.
    , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Earlier this summer, speculation regarding Ariana Grande’s weight and body image reached a fever pitch after the singer announced her retreat from public life following the ending of her ongoing tour next week.
    José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Fixate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fixate. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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