as in focused
to fix (as one's attention) steadily toward a central objective
everyone riveted their eyes on the trick that the magician was performing on stage
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of riveted
The oral arguments Wednesday were the latest twist in the sprawling Murdaugh saga that has riveted the public and spawned true crime documentaries, podcasts and books.
—
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
The all-new Endless Highways Frontier Edition takes the brand's most powerful trailer to new aesthetic heights, warming up the interior of the vintage riveted-aluminum fuselage with a rustic cabin inspired by the mountain ranches and pioneer homesteads of the American West.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Bells made of copper or composition metal (like steel) are cut from sheets of metal, then folded, riveted, and shaped.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
When Shahs of Sunset premiered on Bravo in 2012, viewers were instantly riveted.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 13 Jan. 2026
She is riveted as the actor playing Prince Hamlet (Noah Jupe) is onstage with her husband, Will, playing the ghost of his father, King Hamlet.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2026
Even with my winter boots and sturdy soles, caution dictates a short stride, a shuffling gait end eyes riveted to the slippery ground.
—Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
But the game against Arkansas State riveted the Natural State’s two largest fan bases.
—Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
The jury was riveted to Jordan, arguably the best basketball player ever and certainly one of the most successful sportsmen-turned-businessmen.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
The all-new Endless Highways Frontier Edition takes the brand's most powerful trailer to new aesthetic heights, warming up the interior of the vintage riveted-aluminum fuselage with a rustic cabin inspired by the mountain ranches and pioneer homesteads of the American West.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
Bells made of copper or composition metal (like steel) are cut from sheets of metal, then folded, riveted, and shaped.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026
When Shahs of Sunset premiered on Bravo in 2012, viewers were instantly riveted.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 13 Jan. 2026
She is riveted as the actor playing Prince Hamlet (Noah Jupe) is onstage with her husband, Will, playing the ghost of his father, King Hamlet.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2026
Even with my winter boots and sturdy soles, caution dictates a short stride, a shuffling gait end eyes riveted to the slippery ground.
—Thomas Cangelosi, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2026
But the game against Arkansas State riveted the Natural State’s two largest fan bases.
—Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
The jury was riveted to Jordan, arguably the best basketball player ever and certainly one of the most successful sportsmen-turned-businessmen.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riveted
Verb
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The visit by Ali Larijani, a former Iranian parliament speaker who now serves as the secretary to the country's Supreme National Security Council, likely focused on what comes next after the initial round of indirect talks held last week in Muscat with the Americans.—
JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
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Israeli intelligence expert Sima Shein has warned that negotiations narrowly focused on nuclear restrictions could leave Israel exposed.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Fighting rages on Since the RSF overran el-Fasher, which had been one of the army’s last strongholds in Darfur, fighting has recently concentrated in various areas of Kordofan.—
Noha Elhennawy,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
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One subtype was marked by early damage concentrated in the brain’s cortex, while the other was dominated by degeneration in white matter regions.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riveted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riveted. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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