as in piercing
to penetrate or hold (something) with a pointed object
transfixed the inanimate butterfly specimens to the collection board
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of transfixing
What makes Sam McConnell’s film transfixing, however, is the very personal nature of the drama, written by star Brock Yurich and clearly inspired by his own story.
—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Brazen, physical, able to do more with one (yes) intense gesture than with reams of dialogue, his Bullseye is transfixing.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2026
Brazen, physical, able to do more with one (yes) intense gesture than with reams of dialogue, his Bullseye is transfixing.
—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transfixing
Verb
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Granite cliffs piercing the sea and the sky are Acadia National Park’s most recognizable feature.
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Her flat, piercing groundstrokes and booming serve are perfect for grass, and defending champion Świątek will need to calm down her serving roller coaster to stay in touch.
Verb
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The film centers on a New York murder trial where a teenage boy is accused of stabbing his abusive dad and a jury has the kid's fate in their hands.
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In one instance, the suspect is accused of personally taking part in the killing by stabbing a victim in the chest with a knife, the prosecutors said.
Verb
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On June 3, Walden went to the hospital, where a CT scan revealed the metal bristle had become lodged in his bowel and had begun puncturing his intestine.
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Where there’s normally carpet or hardwood floors, there are rocks, puncturing bare feet with each step.
Verb
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The show ushered in a new era of winking, elbow-jabbing meta-musicals.
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The audience groaned, while Vergara and Mel B screamed for Strange to stop jabbing at his partner through the box.
Verb
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Bryce Eldridge handled the rest, picking Schmitt’s throw out of the dirt to complete the double play.
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The studio showed strong instincts when picking creative partners on the horror side, too.
Verb
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Working with 5 to 6 pieces at a time, remove fish from batter, allowing excess to drip back into bowl, and add to hot oil, briefly dragging fish along surface of oil to prevent sticking.
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Many Venezuelan news reports have avoided politically delicate questions related to the earthquake, such as the widespread collapse of buildings, sticking instead to safer stories about heroic rescues.
Cite this Entry
“Transfixing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transfixing. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
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