transfixed

6.7

Unable to look away and to move because you feel very surprised or amazed

adjective
/trænsˈfɪkst/

: fascinado

I still think people are transfixed by her transformation, by her journey, by Renee's story.

And I was transfixed by these monsters coming out of the wall.

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Examples

And I, I was so transfixed by the relationship between your character and Nicole Kidman's character.
The audience was transfixed by the magician's incredible performance, unable to look away.
Right now I'm actually just transfixed by how beautiful my eyes are in the in the screen.
And for me, I was waiting for President Bush to to see to watch the television set because everyone was transfixed on on that image.
And he goes to Venice, and he suddenly finds himself transfixed by a beautiful young boy that he sees at the hotel.
She stood transfixed in front of the stunning painting, captivated by its beauty.
The children were transfixed by the storyteller, hanging on every word that filled the air.

Synonyms

amazed

vstransfixed

138 1.0

Very surprised in a way that shows wonder

adds an immobile, held reaction caused by awe, fear, or amazement

stunned

vstransfixed

29 3.0

Too shocked to move or think clearly

is similar but emphasizes being physically held motionless with awe or fear

astonished

vstransfixed

21 2.7

Feeling very surprised by something unexpected or hard to believe

adds a physical stillness and awe or fear component to the surprise

aghast

vstransfixed

16 7.2

Feeling very shocked and upset after seeing or hearing something terrible

shares fear but specifically describes being frozen by amazement or awe

rapt

vstransfixed

Formal

11 7.5

Fully focused and very interested in something

adds the sense of being unable to move or look away from shock

flabbergasted

vstransfixed

9 6.7

Very surprised and unable to speak

can include speechlessness but also physical freezing caused by awe or fear

awestruck

vstransfixed

9 6.2

Feeling great wonder and respect, often silent

is a still, held state caused by intense awe or amazement

spellbound

vstransfixed

7 5.2

So interested that you cannot stop watching or listening

is immobilized by awe, fear, or amazement rather than magical fascination

astounded

vstransfixed

7 3.8

Very surprised and unable to believe what happened

is like that but stresses being frozen and unable to move or look away

enthralled

vstransfixed

3 6.9

Very interested and full of wonder, unable to look away

is similar but emphasizes being held motionless by awe or shock

fascinated

vstransfixed

1 2.1

Very interested and unable to stop paying attention

includes that focus but stresses being motionless with awe or fear

awed

vstransfixed

1 3.7

Feeling deep wonder and respect, sometimes a little afraid

focuses more on physical immobility caused by awe or shock

entranced

vstransfixed

1 5.8

Amazed and very happy so you cannot look away

is about being held motionless specifically by awe or amazement

hypnotized

vstransfixed

1 5.3

Your attention is fixed as if under a spell

is a physical immobility from amazement rather than a trance effect

wonder-struck

vstransfixed

1 7.2

Feeling very amazed by something beautiful or strange

includes wonder but also the inability to move or look away

gobsmacked

vstransfixed

1 8.6

Very surprised and unable to speak

is similar but highlights being motionless from awe rather than just shock

mesmerized

vstransfixed

6.0

Unable to look away because something is very interesting

is held motionless by strong awe or shock rather than only absorption

captivated

vstransfixed

3.9

Very interested and pleased so you cannot stop watching or listening

is stronger, adding physical freezing from amazement or fear

enraptured

vstransfixed

Literature

7.2

Full of great joy and wonder

can include joy but mainly means being frozen by amazement or fear

overawed

vstransfixed

7.2

Feeling very impressed and a little afraid when you see something important

is the frozen reaction to that feeling rather than only being impressed

dazzled

vstransfixed

4.2

Very impressed and unable to speak because something is beautiful or amazing

is about being held motionless by awe, fear, or amazement rather than brightness

astonied

vstransfixed

Archaic

9.9

Feeling very surprised and unable to speak or move

focuses more on being held motionless by amazement or fear rather than shock alone

staring

vstransfixed

1.8

Someone's eyes are wide open and fixed on one thing, often from fear or surprise

is a general gaze action, while the key is full immobility with awe

How Absorbed

mesmerized

6.0

transfixed

6.7

fascinated

1 2.1

attentive

61 3.0

interested

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

transfixed positive

Morphology

transfixed = transfix (transparent) = transfix + ed

Formed regularly as the past-participle adjective of the verb 'transfix' (standard -ed formation), so the relation to the base is clear.

Etymology

Transfixed comes from the parts trans- ('through') and fix ('to fasten' or 'to hold'), so imagine being 'fixed through' like an arrow and unable to move. So, to be transfixed today is to be held motionless by shock, fear, or wonder.