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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of affection
When Venus journeys through Virgo, affection looks like cooking a meal for someone, fixing what’s broken or showing up in quiet, consistent ways.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Pets and Unconditional Love It turns out this owner isn’t alone in getting a pet in search of affection.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
The love songs that set its mood are unreservedly sexy and most of all funny — including that dirty ‘Wood’ — expressing genuine affection and delight.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
The affection the arthouse creator had for the midnight format proved invaluable to his success.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affection
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
Pets and Unconditional Love It turns out this owner isn’t alone in getting a pet in search of affection.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
The love songs that set its mood are unreservedly sexy and most of all funny — including that dirty ‘Wood’ — expressing genuine affection and delight.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2025
The affection the arthouse creator had for the midnight format proved invaluable to his success.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affection
Noun
-
Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will draw the national love this week, but Mahomes has quietly returned to his MVP form.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 Oct. 2025
-
In addition to the premiere dates, a teaser trailer also gives audiences a tantalizing glimpse at Luke Thompson‘s Benedict encountering his love interest Sophie Baek (Yerin Ha).—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
That research has also linked ultraprocessed foods to health concerns like obesity, Type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline and cardiovascular disease.—
Alice Callahan,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Other factors include age (most cases occur after age 50), diet (a high-fat diet can increase cancer risk), and family history of the disease.—
Khloe Quill,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
With natural, biodegradable, and inexpensive components, such batteries could one day provide an eco-friendly alternative for powering homes or small devices without relying on toxic metals or complex supply chains.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Officials suspect that three explosive devices were dropped in the parking lot.—
Alexandra Mendoza,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Multiple board members cited the ability to make the time commitment and experience in K-12 education as desirable characteristics.—
Edward McKinnon,
Arkansas Online,
16 Oct. 2025
-
While Cab Franc’s aromas and flavors vary depending on where it is grown, winemakers and wine lovers alike are captivated by its combination of fruity and savory characteristics.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
If possession football is boring, then how did City score a record-breaking 106 Premier League goals (85 from open play) when, looking at the data, their devotion to keeping possession was at its peak?—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Humans aren’t very good at estimating meal components down to the gram, and measuring every mouthful of food requires intense devotion.—
Carrie Arnold,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The game began with a moment of silence for legendary Argentine coach Miguel Russo, who died on Wednesday after a long illness.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Develop a collaborative group presentation that proposes alternative language and frameworks for understanding historical illness.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
As Tuchel attested, England’s inclination to regain possession was as impressive as their work on the ball.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
But Iapetus’s inclination and equatorial ridge — which is more continuous on the Saturn-facing side — remain mysterious.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
-
There is a clear 'flight to quality,' which puts significant pressure on older buildings and office-heavy districts that lack a dynamic mix of amenities.—
Ayesha Javed,
Time,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affection. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share