transfixed

verb

past tense of transfix
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 OpenAI’s foray into hardware has transfixed techies for more than a year, with speculation about the AI company’s forthcoming mystery gadget ranging from a smart speaker to a wearable device. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 27 July 2026 The image could be a still from a film about an alien invasion, although the ominous light almost makes the figures seem like cinemagoers transfixed by something unsettling playing out onscreen. — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026 As more recordings leaked in recent days, the country was transfixed. — Kevin Sieff, The Atlantic, 24 July 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transfixed
  1. stabbed
  2. pierced
  3. punctured
  4. picked
  5. jabbed
  6. stuck
Verb
  • After being stabbed in the ass by Northmen Roddy the Ruin (Tommy Flanagan), Ulf’s (Tom Bennett) dragon suddenly roars in from above and takes them both out in a giant ball of fire.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Kailey Erhart, 22, stabbed her 5-month-old and 3-year-old children to death on Thursday after waving a gun at her estranged husband and threatening to kill herself, according to police.
    — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stabbed
Verb
  • More than 180 bullets pierced, cracked or shattered windows in six buildings on campus.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Eight thick stone legs support a circular tower pierced by arched openings.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of pierced
Verb
  • But her neo-yuppie fantasy is punctured when she’s rejected from a business-school summer program.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 4 Aug. 2026
  • People didn’t buy the Old Hollywood Grande of the early 2020s; her headlines punctured the wholesome façade.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of punctured
Verb
  • Later that day, her most devout followers rented a fleet of RVs, picked Didulo up from her apartment, and began driving across the country.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The group quickly grew at home and received attention from beyond — in its first year running, Futsi was picked to host the International Street Football Association’s Northern California regional qualifier for its inaugural World Cup tournament.
    — Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of picked
Verb
  • Liberty star Sabrina Ionescu jabbed back against the prevailing narrative yesterday, saying she was never invited to participate in the WNBA’s 3-point contest this weekend.
    — Chris Branch, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Two of the points on the rear treble hook were jabbed deeply into the flesh on the outside of the pike’s mouth.
    — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026
Definition of jabbed
Verb
  • Her crippling impostor syndrome was a feature, not a bug — we were stuck there with her for at least two seasons.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The result has been a prolonged low-hire, low-fire job market that’s left many workers of all ages stuck in limbo.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of stuck

Browse Nearby Words

transfix
transfixed
transfixes
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Transfixed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transfixed. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on transfixed

Nglish: Translation of transfixed for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of vacuous

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All