1
as in love
a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone
an elderly couple showing their affection for each other by little acts of kindness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
born with a heart affection that later caused him problems
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devices
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing
I'm rooting for the Cubs—just my natural affection for the underdog, I guess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
religion, of one kind or another, is an affection common to every society known to have existed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of affection
Chiarella takes time between bouts of danger to show affection and intimacy that, in defiance of teen-slasher formula, isn’t immediately penalized with sadism.
—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
But what matters most is that people see the affection between a man and his dog — a bond that has unexpectedly become one of the World Cup’s most endearing images.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
While waiting for a table, Fik explained his affections for the film.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Through a series of cinematic contrivances, Tess borrows Katharine’s skirt suit, claims due credit for her business sense, and wins the affections of Katharine’s financier boyfriend (Harrison Ford).
—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for affection
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
But what matters most is that people see the affection between a man and his dog — a bond that has unexpectedly become one of the World Cup’s most endearing images.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
While waiting for a table, Fik explained his affections for the film.
—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2026
Through a series of cinematic contrivances, Tess borrows Katharine’s skirt suit, claims due credit for her business sense, and wins the affections of Katharine’s financier boyfriend (Harrison Ford).
—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for affection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affection
Noun
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Plus, Worley goes to bat about his love of baseball.
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As a teen, the Regalis Foods founder pooled his savings to buy a kilo of black truffles from France after falling in love with the delicacy at a restaurant near his childhood home in Arkansas.
Noun
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Speaking with Seacoast Online, part of the USA TODAY Network, three years after his diagnosis, Hall said the symptoms of the disease can come and go.
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While bedbugs are not known to spread or transmit disease, the Environmental Protection Agency considers the parasitic insects a pest that can cause other public health issues such as allergic reactions, secondary infections and mental health impacts on those living in infested homes.
Noun
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At one point, Jessie befriends a gang of tech toys that includes a low-tech potty-training product named Smarty Pants, along with GPS and camera devices Atlas and Snappy.
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The suspects arrested allegedly planned to target senior government officials with small, armed drones; no devices were launched.
Noun
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Continuous review President reviews, according to CSU policy, allow the CSU board of trustees to understand the unique characteristics of each campus, assess their leadership and further the school’s progress.
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The game changer was a move to fermentation in stainless-steel tanks or neutral wood barrels, which imparted fewer oak characteristics to the wines.
Noun
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Courtesy of Judice & Araujo That encounter helped awaken his lifelong devotion to plants.
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This devotion to excellence has paved the way for EltaMD’s recognition by the likes of Hailey Bieber, Sydney Sweeney, Kendall Jenner, Drew Barrymore, and Gwyneth Paltrow.
Noun
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What Research Shows About Cancer in Dogs While there is no evidence that turkey tail shrinks tumors, the mushroom has drawn real scientific interest as a complementary therapy for serious illness.
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Harold Wheeler, a prolific and Tony-winning Broadway orchestrator, composer and conductor who for 17 seasons served as musical director for ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, died following a lengthy illness Wednesday, June 24, at his home in Los Angeles.
Noun
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Burdette, leveraging his brother’s connections with college athletes, and his natural inclination to bring the party, had recruited agents who were younger and more fun than Pughsley’s original crowd.
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Choosing a college major has always felt like a big life decision, influenced by not only personal inclinations and talents, but also by starting salaries—new engineering and computer science grads earn more than those with English degrees.
Noun
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Too many teams, not enough quality.
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Researchers are hoping to better understand what Minnesotans think about water quality.
Cite this Entry
“Affection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affection. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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