transfixed

Rooted in place

Transfixed describes being held motionless by shock, fear, wonder, or intense focus.

Someone transfixed by a sight cannot look away; someone transfixed by fear cannot move.

The word carries a sense of being pinned in place: She stood transfixed as the building collapsed.

The children watched, transfixed, as the magician performed.

captivated

spellbound

Held as if enchanted

mesmerizedHeld in rapt attention
enthralledDeeply fascinated, held rapt
fascinatedIntensely absorbed and curious

captivated · enchanted · hypnotized · rapt · riveted · absorbed · engrossed · bewitched · entranced · charmed

immobilized

frozen

Solidified by extreme cold

paralyzedUnable to move voluntarily
rootedFirmly established in place
petrifiedSolidified or fear-paralyzed

motionless · pinned · stuck · stationary · halted · arrested · stock-still · glued · riveted to the spot · nailed

pierced

impaled

Pierced through forcibly

skeweredPierced by pointed rod
spearedPierced with pointed shaft
stabbedPierced with blade

pierced · pinned · run through · lanced · punctured · penetrated · staked · pronged · spiked

Categories

astonishmentamazement, awe, wonder, wonderstruck, awestruck
captivatedspellbound, entranced, enthralled, mesmerized, rapt
status effectsdebuffed, poison, hexed, burn, cursed
captivationfascination, captivation, enthrallment, bewitchment, entrancement
stillnessstillness, motionless, motionlessness, immobility, unmoving

Opposites

attention/engagement

transfixedbored

Lacking interest or engagement

disinterested · inattentive · indifferent · distracted · uninterested

mobility/movement

transfixedmobile

Capable of movement

unfrozen · moving · free · restless · fidgety

emotional response

transfixedunmoved

Not stirred physically/emotionally

unimpressed · disenchanted · unfazed · blasé · jaded

Family

transfix, transfixing, transfixes

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G